Africa-Press – Lesotho. Wasco’s board of directors is either daft or simply high on something illegal. Picture this scenario. A mid-ranking manager reports to the board that she has been sexually harassed by the chief executive.
The board instantly suspends the junior officer. Its chairman tells a newspaper that the manager was temporarily suspended “to protect her, owing to her letter in which she said she was no longer comfortable at work”.
In other words, she is being suspended because she reported the alleged abuse and said she was no longer comfortable at work. The chief executive, the very person whose alleged actions are making her uncomfortable, remains in the office.
Let that sink in as Muckraker rummages through her mind for something polite to say about the decision. The alleged perpetrator remains in office while the alleged victim is suspended.
The Wasco board clearly doesn’t understand why alleged perpetrators of sexual harassment are required to be out of office during the investigation. They obviously think the only purpose is to stop interaction between the accuser and the accuser.
So they have fixed that by sending the victim home so that she is comfortable. They have killed two birds with one stone. But the accused and the accuser are now comfortable because the accuser has been removed.
The board’s message to the women at Wasco is clear: if you report your boss for sexual abuse you will be sent home for your “comfort”. The fundamental issue of the real or perceived possibility of the accused interfering with investigations was probably lost in Maqalika.
But we should not be shocked because Wasco is not known for any finesse. No wonder they announce water cuts they planned a few months back the night before they happen.
They leave holes uncovered and unmarked on our roads and assume drivers and pedestrians will sort themselves out. Those who fall into those holes are either reckless or just want to swim.
Muckraker is sure if you complain about their holes they will tell you to use another road for your comfort. Wasco believes we are sangomas who should know where they have dug holes and when they will cut our water supply.
You are wrong if you think matters of human resources management, ethics, corporate governance and creating a safe environment for employees are too complicated for a company whose job is to sprinkle some chlorine in our water and mend leaking taps. Wasco is not even good at the most basic of its mandate.
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