Bad news for Governor Cuomo‼️

The much anticipated independent investigation he insisted be launched concludes that Governor Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women, including current and former government workers, and retaliated against at least one of the women for making her complaints public.”

The report further finds that Mr. Cuomo and his aides cultivated a toxic work environment in his office that was rife with fear and intimidation, and helped enable ‘harassment to occur and created a hostile work environment.’ In addition, Cuomo’s office did not follow its own policies and procedures related to sexual harassment complaints, violating state law. Cuomo's inner circle was “aware of the allegations and enabled him to continually sexually harass women, or just moved the women out.” The findings of the report are likely to support calls for his resignation and impeachment. 

Is anyone surprised? Governor Cuomo should have held himself accountable from the very beginning making no excuses. He should have apologized to those he sexually harassed with genuine contrition, committed to educate himself on the meaning of sexual harassment, intimidation and bullying, and agreed to make needed changes—publicly. He should have then resigned as governor.

Instead, he insisted on an investigation that has left no stone unturned after interviewing 179 plus witnesses at a high cost to the NY tax payers. The 165 page report, now available for all to read, provides ugly details of his personality, behavior, and intimidating influence, and is raising questions about Cuomo’s lack of apology and remorse and enabling behavior of his staff. Why did his office not follow their own policies and procedures on sexual harassment complaints? Were they bystanders or enablers?

Unfortunately, this happens all of the time. Either the violator holds a powerful position with influence over job security of enablers or bystanders, or the violator is a valuable contributor to the organization’s financial bottom line and holding the violator accountable would risk profitability. 

Either Cuomo received very bad advice or he could not get past his ego. Waiting until conclusion of the investigation to address the sexual harassment complaints (and to take a hard look at himself and make changes) was a huge mistake, which is likely to cost him his career. He should resign to minimize any further trauma to his family, especially his two daughters. If he doesn’t he is likely to be impeached. 

Regardless, Cuomo’s troubles are just beginning. There are a number of other ongoing investigations, including, whether he improperly used state resources while he wrote and promoted his book on the pandemic for which he allegedly collected an advance of 5 million dollars, and most seriously over his administration’s handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic.

Educating employees and company leaders regularly and effectively regarding prevention is likely to engender a more healthy workplace of dignity and respect and ultimately improve the bottom line concerning health-related costs and profitability. In our book ‘Play Nice - Playground Rules for Respect in the Workplace,’ we address this topic in great detail with real-world examples and basic communication tools—to help women combat this type of behavior as a victim and to help men and women when they are bystanders.

We should reward #beupstanding and encourage companies to support #metoo and to handle sexual harassment violations with transparency, respect, responsibility and accountability. Only then will we move the needle and #changetheculture to a more healthy and prosperous environment, free from #abuse and #workplacesexualharassment. What will you do to effect meaningful change? #TimesUp. Let’s #playnice.