By having these bold conversations now,
future generations of women and men will be
less likely to experience harassment.
— Karen Tan, LCSW
President and CEO, Child & Family Service
Read more about workplace sexual harassment and safe spaces in these recent news stories.
Employers must take sex-harassment complaints seriously
Honolulu Star-Advertiser December 18, 2019
R. Makana Risser Chai shares that Hawaii employers that want to avoid being the lead story in the local news can best protect themselves by encouraging employees to make reports of sexual harassment.
Initiative aims to end workplace sexual harassment in Hawaii
Pacific Business News November 20, 2019
The survey showed that workplace leadership and sexual harassment training makes a difference. "When there's training, it is proven that sexual harassment is less likely to happen," Makana Risser Chai said.
Compared to the ongoing candid responses to #MeToo in mainland circles, discussion in Honolulu and elsewhere in Hawaii seems muted. That’s apparently due, in part, to a “don’t make waves” sentiment that’s part of local culture.
Lifelong Hawaii residents less likely to report workplace sexual harassment
Hawai‘i Public Radio November 13, 2019
“You don’t want to change the things that are special about your work environment but you want to make sure everyone feels comfortable," says Beth Whitehead, he executive vice president at American Savings Bank.
Sobering results show the extent of workplace sexual harassment in our islands
Hawaii News Now November 12, 2019
“Some people said they didn’t think it was serious enough, some felt embarrassed ― ashamed ― and that it would be too emotionally difficult. Some did not want to get the person in trouble," said Makana Risser Chai, founder of Respectful WorkSpaces.
Safe Spaces & Workplaces Initiative aims to end workplace sexual harassment in Hawaii
Hawaii News Now November 12, 2019
Survey findings show leadership does make a difference. Employers who embrace workplace sexual harassment training, the ones who take it seriously, the survey shows that this does make a difference in incidents and reporting.
The survey indicated only 18% of cases of sexual harassment are reported
Hawaii Business Magazine November 12, 2019
“No make waves. Don’t bring shame to your family. People just don’t say things,” Wong says. “So how do we create safe space where people feel safe to come forward and come to talk about workplace sexual harassment in a way that honors our values?"
Nearly half of Hawaii workers say they've been sexually harassed
Honolulu Civil Beat November 12, 2019
The survey asked more than 600 Hawaii residents about whether they experienced sexual harassment — ranging from sexual comments to unwanted touching — at work. Most said the harassment occurred at their worksite and was perpetrated by a coworker.
The silence makes it worse. Be brave and start to share.
KITV November 12, 2019
"It's not a joke. It's really about the receiver. And so if they're receiving it in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable and when that's okay. And around them needs to be people who say, we support you and we hear you," Karen Tan says.
