• 01
  • November
    2011

When an average person becomes a politician, their personal history absolutely becomes public knowledge. Presidential candidate Herman Cain was no exception. It recently came to light that he may have assisted in providing a settlement to at least two female employees accusing him of showing inappropriate sexual behavior towards them.

Settlements often remain secret because many include confidentiality requirements, but the candidate has had to answer to claims that he entered into the alleged settlements to prevent a possible sexual harassment suit.

The candidate held the position of head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s. Details about the accusations remain unclear, even in the statements made by the candidate. During a Nation Press Club appearance on Monday, he claimed that he was not aware of any settlements provided by the trade association. Later, in a different interview, he said that he knew about a settlement or termination of some sort.

The candidate's apparent confusion over the details or the existence of the claims, according to the candidate, was in part due to the fact that the accusations were from nearly 12 years in the past. "I do have a sense of humor," he told an interviewer when asked about a comment made concerning a female employee's height, "some people have a problem with that."

At times sexual harassment is written off as "humor," but there is nothing funny about harassing behavior that can create a hostile work environment. Comments that may be considered funny to some can actually cross the line into harassing behavior to others. No employee should have to put up with behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable, pressured or degraded.

Source: npr, "Cain Says He Was 'Falsely Accused' Of Harassment," Oct. 31, 2011