Despite the Need and Good Intentions, #MeToo May Have Unintended Consequences

Legitimate, well-researched news stories have made it clear that sexual harassment, and sometimes even sexual assault, have been pervasive in American workplaces. Healthcare, including urgent care, is not immune. The need to take action to stop it, or at least levy serious consequences on those who commit abuses, is beyond debate. Unfortunately, however, even righteous causes sometimes have unintended consequences. An article just published in the Harvard Business Review reports a growing backlash against #MeToo, resulting in strained relations between genders in the workplace. Men and women are unsure how to deal with each other, and it’s getting in the way of their own engagement at work and putting a damper on smooth operations where there’s no history of sexual harassment or abuse. For example, the authors reported 44% of men surveyed said they would be “more likely to exclude women from social interactions” because of the #MeToo movement; 57% of men “will be more reluctant to have one-on-one meetings with women with no others present.” Women are leery of potential backlash, as well; 43% agreed with the statement “The more women who come forward about sexual harassment, the more likely it will be that men blame women for the problem.” If you read the cover article in this month’s JUCM, you know this is not just a problem among coworkers. In clinical settings like urgent care, it is often patients who harass or abuse providers. If you haven’t read it, click here for insights into how you can protect your staff and reduce legal risk for your business.