Companies Alert as Sexual Harassment Complaints are in the Spotlight

Robert Robenalt, a partner in the Columbus office, was quoted in the Columbus Dispatch article “Area Companies On Alert as Sexual Harassment Complaints Get Spotlight.” He said he has seen the attention paid to sexual harassment come and go over his 24 years in practice. 

“This area waxes and wanes depending on what’s going on. Right now, we’re obviously in a heightened period of interest. After the Anita Hill hearings (in 1991), there was a spike in claims and interest.” 

The article noted that the number of sex-based harassment claims filed nationally with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has been fairly steady in recent years. In 2016, 12,860 claims were filed; 12,573 were filed in 2015 and 12,695 in 2010. The percentage of claims filed by men also has stayed fairly consistent, between 16 and 18 percent. 

Robert said that from the perspective of both protecting one’s business and “doing the right thing,” he would recommend that companies review their sexual-harassment protocols and training, given the heightened scrutiny. 

The article is posted to the Columbus Dispatch website. (Subscription required.)