Maker's Mark facing "hostile workplace" lawsuit

[boone]

I've been hearing about this lawsuit for several weeks ... http://www.lebanonenterprise.com/content/makers-mark-facing-hostile-workplace-lawsuit

[wadewood]

interesting, especially considering the rumors around why Dave Pickerell is no longer master distiller at Makers.

[Bourbon Boiler]

"all reported incidents of sexual harassment including...a co-worker exposing her buttocks in the workplace."

:bigeyes: :bigeyes: :bigeyes:

[jburlowski]

"all reported incidents of sexual harassment including...a co-worker exposing her buttocks in the workplace."

:bigeyes: :bigeyes: :bigeyes:

Dip that in some red wax....

[JPBoston]

"all reported incidents of sexual harassment including...a co-worker exposing her buttocks in the workplace."

:bigeyes: :bigeyes: :bigeyes:

So where's the problem? :cool:

[clingman71]

So where's the problem? :cool:

Not all buttocks are created equal!

[JPBoston]

Not all buttocks are created equal!

LOL --- True. I was picturing Jessica Beil... While in reality, it was probably closer to Rosie O'Donnell.

But...... That's where the Maker's comes into play! :70358-devil:

[Bourbon Boiler]

Not all buttocks are created equal!

If it may please the court, your honor, I'd like to enter buttocks A as evidence.

[JPBoston]

If it may please the court, your honor, I'd like to enter buttocks A as evidence.

I see what you did there, lol. :bowdown:

[Josh]

The buttocks thing is funny, no doubt. But the accusations of retaliation are very troubling. One of the women in the suit has worked there since 1996, and another since 1987.

[wadewood]

interesting, especially considering the rumors around why Dave Pickerell is no longer master distiller at Makers.

Ignore my comment, I must have got my rumors confused or just plain remembered wrong.

[StraightBoston]

Ignore my comment, I must have got my rumors confused or just plain remembered wrong.

Now JD's late Jimmy Bedford, on the other hand...

[Bourbon Boiler]

I see what you did there, lol. :bowdown:

Wow, I didn't even realize what I'd typed there. :blush:

[cowdery]

It typically takes a lot to warrant a lawsuit of this kind. When you read some of the cases that get to trial, you see examples of truly outrageous behavior that absolutely should be prohibited and punished. The person or persons causing the problem may not be senior management but management is responsible for ensuring an appropriate workplace environment. When it gets to the point of a lawsuit, it usually means all lesser measures have been tried without success. This is a serious matter.

It's especially significant when the suit is brought by employees with many years in that particular workplace. Does that mean it's a recent problem? Maybe. People generally don't wait 25 years to take action when they're subjected to a truly hostile workplace.

I don't envy anyone who has to manage a workforce of any kind. I don't and I'm very glad to have dodged that particular bullet.

[weller_tex]

You would think that this sort of stuff would not exist anymore, but it does, just like racism still exists. I am nowhere near a left-winger, but this nonsense needs to stop.

[HP12]

Full article with pic of plaintiffs.

Harassment in the workplace, whether sexual or discriminatory is more common than some would think. At corporate levels, in general, there are very strict guidelines regarding appropriate/inappropriate behavior, employee awareness training and employee / management responsibilities to report and act upon allegations.

Whether it's a big or small company, proper awareness, a culture of respect (all levels of management/non-management) and zero tolerance with pro-active action should be the model when it comes to sexual harassment/hostile workplace issues. Sometimes there is an awakening within employees/employee groups of what appropriate/inappropriate behavior is, even though a culture of questionable behavior has been within a workplace for years and going unchecked without being questioned or challenged.

Smaller companies and workplace cultures with a dismissive attitude towards "proper" behavior are generally misinformed, mismanaged and subject to the type of legal exposure now finding it's way to MM. It doesn't matter if it's a seasoned employee or a newer one that is exposed to the inappropriate behavior. A senior employee and a newer employee are equally protected and one doesn't necessarily trump the other when it comes to credibility. If the MM employees bringing the suit have proper documentation of events and a culture within MM can be shown to be inappropriate, they have a good chance of winning. And with Beam at the helm, those are big pockets to dip into.

[DeanSheen]

You would think that this sort of stuff would not exist anymore, but it does, just like racism still exists. I am nowhere near a left-winger, but this nonsense needs to stop.

I'm sure that I'm misconstruing something here but it really bothers me that people feel they need to give things like sexism and racism a party affiliation.

Wrong is wrong independent of ideology. Cultural Relativism has been a great excuse for some very bad things to exist and does not function as a defense in civilized society.

[ILLfarmboy]

I'm sure that I'm misconstruing something here but it really bothers me that people feel they need to give things like sexism and racism a party affiliation.

[weller_tex]

I'm sure that I'm misconstruing something here but it really bothers me that people feel they need to give things like sexism and racism a party affiliation.

Wrong is wrong independent of ideology. Cultural Relativism has been a great excuse for some very bad things to exist and does not function as a defense in civilized society.

[AaronWF]

In today's media, academia..etc the general stereotype (incorrect) is that the left is incapable of such behavior and they "own" this topic by smashing it wherever it occurs, while the right are portrayed as the evil ones...just as all the left is portrayed by the right as military-hating and unpatriotic..once again incorrect.

All I meant to say is that no matter where you stand with politics, one should not condone this behavior.

It's just Fox News. Most people would be capable of remaining open-minded, level-headed and available for conversation with opposing viewpoints were it not for the sensationalism-as-news that Fox has poisoned the minds of America with.

Anyway, sorry, this should maybe go in Politics and Controversy, but I never look in there.

[p_elliott]

I'm sure that I'm misconstruing something here but it really bothers me that people feel they need to give things like sexism and racism a party affiliation.

Wrong is wrong independent of ideology. Cultural Relativism has been a great excuse for some very bad things to exist and does not function as a defense in civilized society.

I think you are over-reacting to a benign comment.

Its like someone saying..... "I'm no animal rights nut, nut but that Michael Vick ought to have done to him what he did to those dogs.

We all know what he meant.

In today's media, academia..etc the general stereotype (incorrect) is that the left is incapable of such behavior and they "own" this topic by smashing it wherever it occurs, while the right are portrayed as the evil ones...just as all the left is portrayed by the right as military-hating and unpatriotic..once again incorrect.

All I meant to say is that no matter where you stand with politics, one should not condone this behavior.

It's just Fox News. Most people would be capable of remaining open-minded, level-headed and available for conversation with opposing viewpoints were it not for the sensationalism-as-news that Fox has poisoned the minds of America with.

Anyway, sorry, this should maybe go in Politics and Controversy, but I never look in there.

Why is this being discussed in the bourbon board ? Take it to politics board where it belongs. :hot:

[weller_tex]

Why is this being discussed in the bourbon board ? Take it to politics board where it belongs. :hot:

I agree that it really does not belong here..but I can't move it out of this forum. I should not have responded to the OP i suppose...

[ILLfarmboy]

Why is this being discussed in the bourbon board ? Take it to politics board where it belongs. :hot:

Perhaps even the OP should not be in general discussion.

Like it or not, talk of sexual harassment, especially in todays litigious society, is not only "controversial", but by its very nature invites further political discussion as it relates to current workforce policies and trends.

Its like trying to discuss neo-prohibitionist activities without bringing "politics" into the discussion.

Dean may disagree, but I still say Tex's comment was benign. I think the most offensive part of it was the fact that it got the point across. Everyone intuitively knows what he meant. That, I think, is what got Dean so bent out of shape.

Now, of course, the thread has degenerated into a bashing of FNC which is in no way relevant to the topic at hand.

[silverfish]

I should not have responded to the OP i suppose...

As occasionally happens, this started out Bourbon related but

veered off into PRC all too soon. Don't blame yourself.

[Josh]

Let's get the facts straight, shall we?

Weller Tex is the one who brought politics into this thread by adding "I'm no left-winger, but..." to his statement. He later clarified his statement and expressed regret but it started with that first post.

Rob was merely saying that it was unfortunate that issues like this had to be connected with politics. Weller Tex's next post was more or less in agreement with Rob's point that politics shouldn't be connected with issues like this. I think pretty much everybody in this thread agrees with that. So let's stop trying to find people to blame or portray as vicitms and move on.