If you work for the English Natoinal Opera, don’t call your fellow staff “darling.” It might be actionable as sexual harassment.
An ENO spokesman said: “Some people may have used the term ‘darling’ to each other for years, but there are others who may consider it inappropriate.”
The policy, set out in a document called Dignity at Work, singles out the word “darling” as part of a code of conduct which addresses workplace protocol. It tells employees: “The use of affectionate names such as ‘darling’ may constitute sexual harassment.”
The spokeswoman added: “This isn’t about banning the word, it’s all about the context in which it is used. Whilst it may be acceptable between friends, it would be thought of very differently if the term is used by a senior colleague and accompanied by a wink. Our policy puts in place a mechanism which allows an employee who feels uncomfortable to enter into a grievance procedure.
“We realise that it would be almost impossible to ban the word ‘darling’ in theatreland, but this is about addressing some serious issues.”
The policy also warns about unwelcome sexual advances and “offensive” flirtation.
Granted that someone using the term could use it with an intent to harrass. Granted that it might be a part of “unwelcome sexual advances” and “offensive flirtation.” Nonetheless, you could say the same about how you look at people, too. Will we expect guidelines about not looking at other people, so as avoid causing “offense” of those who consider it “inappropriate”?
By singling out “the use of affectionate names such as ‘darling'” as perhaps being, in and of themselves, sexual harrassment, it is about trying to ban a word. Because ultimately it then comes down to a jury having to interpret the context and (if it even counts) intent, and it thus become simply easier to argue that using the word “darling” is harrassment in and of itself.
Feh.
(via Overlawyered)