Bosses, listen closely, consent doesn’t get you off the hook

icon1 Posted by denised in Featured Articles, Office on 09 16th, 2009 | Comments

finger pointingAn article in Business Management Daily warns bosses against mistakenly believing that consensual sexual activity with their subordinates gets them off the hook for sexual harassment.  Case in point, the sensational case of Augusto Medina and the late Frederick “the Rev. Ike” Eikerenkoetter, a former Florida based evangelist.

Medina was hired by the church to be the pastor’s personal assistant. Medina claimed the pastor made him engage in a sexual relationship and sued the church for sexual harassment.  The church and the reverend denied any sexual relationship, but claimed that even if there had been one, the lawsuit was baseless since Medina himself admitted to consenting. It’s the old “I didn’t do it, but even if I had done it, you let me” argument.  The court didn’t buy it either, citing the supervisory relationship between Medina and Reverend Ike.

Office fraternization is common – even when explicitly forbidden by company rules. But when you get people spending more time with colleagues than with their spouses, these things happen. And while workplace dalliances are always risky, when they involve bosses and their subordinates, the risks multiply.

Business Management Daily suggests that companies consider banning all personal relationships between supervisors and subordinates.  And while many companies will take that suggestion, at least on paper anyway, we all know that banning them won’t put an end to them.  I’ve been in environments where there were obvious signs of a relationship going on between a subordinate and a member of management.  It’s bad for office morale, and it causes everyone to question the leadership.  We couldn’t see any evidence that HR or other management attempted to do anything to remedy the situation.  Maybe realizing that not interceding could threaten their bottom line, is the boost some employers need to finally take action.

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  • Ernestos
    http://sdfla.blogspot.com/2010/01/rev-ike-hit-w... Rev. Ike testified in his deposition, which was played at trial, that he never had any sexual contact with Plaintiff Medina, and that there was no way this could have been consensual because it never happened. Also when asked if there was anyone who could overrule a decision made by him, Rev. Ike said, "All those in favor say aye, all those opposed say, I resign. No."

    In the closing argument, Defendants' attorney said that Rev. Ike lied at his depo and that the sex was consensual. Of course Rev. Ike denied it ever happened, the lawyer said, because of his position and Medina knew that he had to deny it and would deny it, which is further proof of the calculated plan to extort money from Rev. Ike.

    Apparently there was a gasp from Rev. Ike's widow, who was in the audience, when the lawyer revealed that there was consensual sex.
  • Despite evidence to the contrary, some people refuse to believe the truth about men and women they've come to love and adore. But if the guy's own attorney is saying that there was consensual sex, then I can't see how anyone can reasonably continue to argue that there wasn't!
  • JNS
    I dont believe this at all. Rev.Ike was a kind/loving respectful and Just man of God. Unfortunately, when you are wealthy, you are always victim of anyone who sees an opportunity to get something for nothing and that is exactly the case here...this young man will have to answer to God for his false accusations against a man of God.
  • Ernestos
    Friday, January 29, 2010
    Rev. Ike hit with $5 million verdict in federal court
    How did no one cover the male on male sexual harassment case before Judge Cooke? Rev. Ike just got hit for $5 million!

    The case was: Augusto Medina vs. United Christian Evangelic Association & the Estate of Frederick Eikerenkoetter (Rev. Ike) -- Case No. 08-22111. Congrats to Robyn Hankins and Jennifer Ator for their big win.

    I am working on getting some of the details of the case and will post soon. In the meantime, here's a clip of Rev. Ike:
  • Thanks for your comments Ernestos. I think I may have covered the Rev Ike story in a previous post. I'll look for it and post the link. In the meantime, would love to post the details of the case. Please let me know when you've got the info. Thanks!
  • Thanks for your comment Paula. I completely agree. I definitely think employers should ban those types of relationships. But I think we all know that for the most part that ban would exist on paper only. Many of times, the people doing the banning are the very ones engaged in the bad behavior.
  • PaulasPleasures
    I think it's a good idea to ban these types of workplace relationships entirely but then the question of how to actually enforce the rules becomes, in reality, difficult to say the least.
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