Training That Matters

Orange County’s decision to reinstate training for 2,000 of its top officials in how to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace is timely in light of allegations against some high-level county workers.

Last month, it was disclosed that the director of administration for the county Social Services Agency had left his job. The manager had been accused of sexual harassment, but county officials would not say whether he had been dismissed.

That departure followed by a week the termination notice served on Assistant Sheriff Dennis LaDucer, who has been accused in lawsuits of making sexual comments and inappropriately touching employees. LaDucer has denied the charges.

The county’s Health Care Agency director also has been charged in a civil lawsuit with sexual harassment, which he denies. Two top officials of the county’s environmental health division have been accused of denying promotions to three people in the Health Care Agency because those employees are women. The officials have denied the accusations.

The county managers in charge of workplace issues such as sexual harassment defend the county’s record in treating employees equally and providing a workplace free of harassment.

Wherever the truth lies, it is beneficial that this training, which was cut during the bankruptcy, is currently being brought back for managers, supervisors and executives. Lower-level workers and managers alike can benefit from periodic reminders about what is appropriate behavior in the workplace.