Given the recent scandal involving the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, it is timely to revisit what is appropriate and particularly from leaders.
It goes without saying (but I will say it anyway), that everyone has a right to be able to go to work and attend social functions feeling safe. No-one has the right to touch any other person without their permission.
Early on in my leadership career, I was at a work function when a drunk colleague who was subordinate to me, thought it was appropriate to grab me on the butt in front of a group of workmates. This mortified me on so many levels - it was completely disrespectful, I did not have any particular friendship with this individual and (given I thought I was at a safe work function) I was certainly not 'en garde' as I may have been if I'd been out partying on a weekend. It completely threw me and I didn't give him the dressing down that I should have as I was lost for words (somewhat of a rarity for me).
I reported the incident to my boss (our CEO) and my HR Business Partner the following week and the individual was challenged about it. He denied having any memory of the incident (not that he did it, just that he didn't remember doing it). He was directed to apologise to me and he agreed to this - that was to be the end of the matter.
I never received an apology and he remained in the business until he resigned on his own terms some time later. I should note that he was one of our better sales people, so there was a reticence to remove him from the business. I worked for that organisation for 12 years and was always so proud of my time there and the enduring friendships I made, but this incident and the poor way it was handled has always left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I was so proud to learn that last month, Annabel Bassil, a 22 year old bar manager in Sydney, stood up for herself and had a man charged with common assault for essentially the same thing that happened to me some 17 years ago. I have so much optimism for the future as so many of the next generation of both women and men are prepared to stand up against the objectification of women.
I truly believe that education is the key to drive change. I think that is why the University of Adelaide scandal is all the more disappointing. This is widely regarded to be the leading educational institution in our state and yet, the person placed in charge of it has allegedly behaved like any other neanderthal, entitled, pig who treats women as objects.
Thankfully the future is bright as a generation of Annabel Bassil's are coming through and they will not stand for anything less than respect - and neither they should!