Comments on: Mrs. Clarence Thomas: Out Damn’d Spot

By: John Phillips

John Phillips — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:15:33 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Nae. I don’t know what to say about Mrs. Thomas other than what I said in my post.

It can be a huge problem if all or some of the employees involved in the dispute stay with the employer. It’s not impossible, however. I’ve seen it work a few times when HR meets with each person, is honest about the possible problem that can exist in the future, asks each person how he/she feels about that, how a problem can be avoided, and then pay close attention for a couple of weeks — maybe longer — to the employees in question.

And back to something I think I said in my post, I think providing employees training on dispute resolution, etc. would be well worth the cost, not just to deal with some huge problem that may occur but to work together effectively and respectfully on a day to day basis.

Thanks again for your comment.

John

By: Nae

Nae — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:47:08 +0000

Frank is right, but oh! What a mess if no one leaves! Everyone concerned has to really work hard towards reconciliation or it will blow up in your face again and you will be forced to discipline one or more of the parties.

I have to say, Mrs. Thomas is a piece of work. Even if Ms. Hill lied, who could possibly expect an apology after she wrote a book about it? Either Mrs. Thomas is unbalanced or she is CRAZY for attention.

By: John Phillips

John Phillips — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:37:39 +0000

Excellent point, Frank. Thanks for the contribution.

John

By: ACU Frank

ACU Frank — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:18:36 +0000

In most work-related cases, though, one of the parties leaves the organization (whether by choice or not) fairly soon. That may not heal everything, but at least the conflict doesn’t continue to come up like this one. Anita Hill has been vilified and re-victimized over and over during the past two decades… I guess this latest shot shouldn’t surprise any of us.