Fowler's firm represents a number of public jurisdictions in Oklahoma. That advice is reminiscent of many organizations, and makes the article all that much more important.
All good managers realize that rumors and gossip among and about co-workers disrupt the workplace.
This is particularly true when the rumors allege affairs between co-workers or between an employee and a supervisor. Now some creative plaintiffs' lawyers are charging that rumors of this type constitute a form of hostile environment sexual harassment, and some courts are agreeing. Not all of these cases impose liability for rumors on the employer. The courts, however, are unanimous that blatant sexual misconduct is not necessary to prove a sexually hostile environment exists. A female professor at the University of Iowa medical school, Dr. Jew, contended that she was the victim of a hostile working environment and sex discrimination caused by repeatedly circulated rumors that she had a sexual relationship with her department head and that she had received preferential treatment based on that relationship.