A suburban Chicago firefighter stands to collect $850,000.00 to settle a sexual harassment and discrimination suit filed more than three years ago.
According to a report in today’s Chicago Tribune, Oak Lawn firefighter Sharon Januszewski complained that a “dried milky white substance” was discovered in a storage bin holding her bedding back in 2003.
Yes, DNA tests later determined it was semen.
She further charged that officials failed to fully investigate the matter, and she was shunned by her “brothers” and supervisors since her complaint, that pornographic magazines and videos were left regularly around the fire stations, and that she was the victim of retaliation when a supervisor accused her of misconduct after she refused his advances.
The Chicago Tribune reported the village initially denied her allegations- until the DNA test results on the semen-encrusted bedding came back positive. Oak Lawn officials also argued they had taken the proper and prompt corrective actions and Januszewski refused to take advantage of "preventive and corrective opportunities" offered her by the village.
The village decided they would rather settle than risk a higher award should the case go to trial. The settlement, which also stipulates that Januszewski keep her job, must still be approved by the court.
Now I don’t know exactly how all this went down in Oak Lawn, and the lack of a trial means we might never know. But what I DO know is that perception trumps reality- all day long.
So here’s your perception if you are a taxpayer in Oak Lawn tonight: You are pretty disgusted to have to pay out a significant amount of money (not covered by insurance in this case) due to what you might believe is:
1) a stupid, senseless, and sophomoric act by your local heroes, and
2) a gaping vacuum of leadership by supervisors and superiors who are paid more than well enough to have known better.
Unfortunately, these incidents are not unique to Oak Lawn. They happen all over and all too often. It’s embarrassing, it’s destructive, it’s costly, and there is just no excuse.
So how willing are you to let this nightmare creep into your department?
What steps should you take- right now-to make sure it doesn’t happen within your department?
Does your staff fully understand and appreciate the consequences if an incident were allowed to occur?
Is everyone on the same page, or is there an underlying stream of immature and bigoted idiots more eager to act than to think? That’s dangerous, especially if you are cursed with staff lacking the leadership to squelch such behavior.
Clearly, if you are in a command position and chose to ignore such activity, or worse- try to cover it up with retaliation- then you are demonstrating just how badly your leadership skills suck.
And if you suck that badly inside the station, what does that say about your ability to lead your troops out in the field?
So don’t be lazy- recognize the behavior and nip this nonsense in the bud hard.
-J
