Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd Steps Down in Wake of Sexual Harassment Allegations

Even though the information is insufficient, Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd has resigned from his high-profile position in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. According to the New York Daily News, Jodie Fisher, an actress and single mother, accused Hurd of inappropriate behavior while she was working for Hewlett-Packard's marketing department.

Is Mark Hurd a sexual predator?

In the 20 years following Anita Hill's allegations of sexual harassment by Clarence Thomas, the relationship between co-workers has changed drastically. Thomas, who replaced Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court, made it through his long and painful Senate confirmation hearings, but ex-HP CEO Mark Hurd now is out of a job.

As Henry Blodget of the San Francisco Chronicle, points out, however, the details about the relationship between Mark Hurd and Jodie Fisher are rather sketchy. Hurd has been portrayed as a sexual predator, but the only hard evidence against him is some questionable expense reports. Blodget offers up some detailed scenarios about the interactions between Hurd and Fisher, but no one really knows if it was a few intimate dinners or something more intense.

Mitsubishi Motors and the Hostile Workplace

In the years following the Clarence Thomas hearings, the phrase "hostile workplace" entered the lexicon. By definition, a hostile workplace can be created by something as simple as a sexually-explicit calendar to actions more hurtful, such as verbal comments or inappropriate touching and fondling of a co-worker.

A few years ago, LegalZoom assembled a list of five high-profile sexual harassment cases, and a 1998 lawsuit involving Mitsubishi Motors made their list. Female employees at the Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Ill., Filed suit against their co-workers, citing fondling, verbal abuse and inappropriate behavior involving an air gun.

According to LegalZoom, Mitsubishi paid $34 million as a result of this suit, plus other payments to other workers. Like many other companies, Mitsubishi also adopted a "zero tolerance" policy against sexual harassment in the workplace.

Men sexually harassed by female superiors

When sexual harassment stories hit the newswires, these cases typically involve a male boss and a female co-worker. What happens, though, when a female supervisor takes liberties with a male co-worker? Louis Oblea Jr., an employee at First Mutual in New Jersey, found out the hard way.

According to Marie Claire, Oblea received unwanted attention from Jackie Mesinger, a high-ranking executive at First Mutual. Oblea reported Mesinger's inappropriate behavior to his boss, including unwanted touching and graphic photos sent to his company e-mail address. Oblea complained, was fired for "poor work performance," but he ultimately filed a lawsuit and received a settlement from First Mutual.

Resources:

NYDailyNews.com, "Jodie Fisher, 'Age of Love' star, says she's sorry HP CEO lost job after her sex harass claims," Virginia Breen

San Francisco Chronicle, "Here's the Real Reason HP CEO Mark Hurd Was Fired (As Best We Can Tell)...", Henry Blodget

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Thomas

LegalZoom.com, "Five Biggest Sexual Harassment Cases," Michelle Kaminsky

Marie Claire, "Sexual Harassment - Women Harassing Men," Gretchen Voss