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Sexual Harassment and the #MeToo Movement: Immediate Action Items for Employers

Blank Rome Workplace

As the breaking news reaffirms in graphic detail on an almost daily basis, we are in a transformative time when it comes to how claims of harassment are reported and handled in the workplace. From Hollywood to Rockefeller Center, and everywhere in-between, employers must be prepared. On December 15, 2017, Blank Rome’s Labor and Employment co-chairs, Scott Cooper and Brooke Iley, held an emergency briefing by webinar entitled: “The #MeToo Movement: Are You Prepared?”

The #MeToo movement was initially launched over 10 years ago by social activist Tarana Burke. On October 15, 2017, in response to the growing Harvey Weinstein revelations, actress Alyssa Milano sent out a tweet asking “If you’ve been sexually assaulted write `me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” #MeToo has now trended in at least 85 countries and the “Silence Breakers” were named 2017 Time Magazine’s Persons of the Year. Various titans of industry have fallen—including Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose, Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., James Toback, Garrison Keillor, Senator Al Franken, Representative John Conyers—and the list continues to grow.

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