Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era

Why Should You Attend:

Complaints of sexual and unlawful harassment have been exploding with allegations being made against top executives like Harvey Weinstein and Steve Wynn. Could this happen in your organization? Sexual harassment is an issue that has been at the forefront of a social revolution (the “MeToo” movement) that has global implications. Whether you are a small local company or you have offices around the globe, the issue of sexual harassment is one that you undoubtedly will face and you need to be prepared.

The prolific number of #MeToo complaints still dominating the news and taking down powerful leaders from many industries has exposed workplace sexual harassment that has often been ignored, condoned, and hidden. The fact that so many of these stories originate in workplace settings suggests that both employers and employees have much to learn about how to create better workplace cultures that oppose and prevent this behavior.

Today, employers need much more than simple policies and training to create safe, inclusive and productive environments for all employees.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the social and legal background of sexual harassment through a review of critical state and federal cases.
• Identify the different types of sexual harassment.
• Understand the interaction between sexual harassment and other laws such as assault and battery.
• Critical developments and legal points in the law of sexual harassment.
• Explore potential remedies – how not to approach the problem and avoid making a bad problem worse.

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• The definition of Sexual Harassment
• Federal Law
• California Laws
• Why Sexual Harassment is illegal
• Identifying Sexual Harassment
• Examples of Sexual Harassment
• Internal Complaint Process
• Supervisor responsibilities
• The employer’s obligations

Who Will Benefit:

• Supervisors
• Managers
• Team Leaders
• HR Professionals

Melvin K Patterson
Founder, HR Employee Relations

Melvin K. Patterson, an attorney licensed to practice before all state and federal courts in California, was General Counsel to the Cedrus Group, a family of international financial services firms with offices around the globe. He is a member of the Labor & Employment Section of the California State Bar and has been admitted to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California as well as the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. Mr. Patterson is experienced in Labor and Employment litigation and transactional matters in the U.S., Asia and the U.K. He has designed internal business policies, procedures and management structures, as well as inter-corporate relationships and has been a business owner himself.

Mr. Patterson is an experienced trial litigator who has handled numerous business and commercial matters for over 20 years on behalf of an elite clientele around the world. He has defended clients in matters brought against companies by employees, relating to commercial business agreements and government regulatory matters.

Mr. Patterson holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the John F. Kennedy University School of Law, as well as a Certificate in Strategic Human Resource Management from Cornell University. He has also earned the American Jurisprudence Award, completed specialized training in Assessing Economic Damages, Forensic Discovery and Preservation of Electronic Evidence and Data.

Mr. Patterson was nominated to the National Dean's List and has been a speaker before such groups as the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, is a past contributing editor to California Motions In Limine (The Rutter Group) and has been a columnist for the "The Docket", the news and information journal of the San Mateo County Bar Ass'n. He has a knowledge of Korean, Japanese and Spanish languages.

Topic Background:

In the U.S., all employers are obligated to maintain a harassment-free workplace for their employees at all times. “Sexual Harassment” covers unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Although the law requires employers to maintain a harassment-free workplace, there are currently no federal laws which require employers to provide employees with Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. Various state laws, such as those in California, do require periodic training in sexual harassment prevention.

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