From the case of Astra Company, several factors have led to sexual discrimination and harassment scandal which can be put into two main categories: culture and individual self interests. The major factor contributing to this is the management style exhibited by the managers of the organization. There was a culture (referred in the case as Astra way) of intimidation, merrymaking, sexual exploitation, gender insensitive hiring and lavish lifestyles. Both Mogren and Bildman had an appetite for wine and opera lifestyles which may have contributed to the sexual exploits by Bildman and his colleagues in the organization.
The management in the organization was that of dictatorship which included threats and intimidations. Bildman had instilled fear in all staff to a point that they could accept anything they were ordered to do in fear of losing their job as indicated by one former employee that one had to go along ‘Astra way’ otherwise lose the job. The managers took advantage of this fear to sexually harass the female staff.
Staff hiring was made discriminately with young female recruits being preferred over male recruits. Sales jobs are highly paying and lucrative, and therefore, from a professional point of view, hiring was supposed to be made to highly qualified staff, but the managers preferred recruiting armatures in order to use the training sessions to quench their sexual egos. This sexual exploit was further enhanced through ensuring that only the most attractive female recruits were hired, in-training lodgings with little movement and course content that included study of anatomy and physiology.
Open-bar night outs and outdoor entertainment contributed to these sexual harassment. From a social point of view, drinking parties especially where women are expected to attract attention may contribute enormously to sexual immorality. Three days open bar nights out and frequent nightclub entertainments offered by Bildman and top managers exclusively to the new hires was too much. The case also stated that Bildman ordered the staff to dance after a drinking spree and he took this opportunity on one of the female recruits.
To prevent occurrence of such problems in future, clear human resources policies addressing the vice should be developed and enforced. In addition, policies should address the issue of misuse of power and as much as possible try to introduce democratic style of management.
Hiring policy should be reinforced to include equal opportunity for all rather than preferring a certain group of people. It should also stress that hiring be made on merit and not in favor to reduce the consequences of in-house training. Moreover, all entertainment should be abolished as they act as breeding points for immorality, and where entertainment is required, it should involve everybody in the organization and should be more professional.
The firm should establish guidelines and direct lines that will be used by those affected directly or indirectly, or anybody else with information on behavior amounting to sexual harassment to call directly and report such cases. In addition, since sexual harassment is a violation of penal code, there should also be telephone hotlines linking to the law authorities that can be used for whistle blowing. This will instill a sense of caution on potential culprits as they will fear being reported.
Human resource policies should be linked to the performance of the firm. This means that all the roles of the human resource department should be fully integrated and should address the communication and reporting patterns in the organization as well as employee behavior. In addition, performance contracts for all employees including managers should clearly indicate the social limits and implications of behaviors that may be interpreted as sexual harassment. In addition the issue of dress code should not be subjective but should be well stated in the human resources policies.
In a bid to harmonize the working relationship in the organization, Astra way tag should be overhauled to include issues like holding open forums for all employees on a regular basis where they will air all their grievances, suggestions and other issues affecting them that should be addressed. In these forums also, the various relevant policies should be cascaded and brainstormed to ensure everybody understands his/her rights, roles and duties in and outside the firm.