I got this Email from a staff of Wakanow.com Chioma Mba whose appointment was recently terminated, and it was shocking to say the least.
I actually used to work with Wakanow.com before but was never sexually harassed, though termination of employments were very common for reasons best known to those in authority.
Chioma claims she was sexually harassed by one of the bosses in the company, who finally terminated her appointment and she sent an email copying all staff in Lagos and Abuja offices as seen below
''To whom it may concern:
I received the most shocking news yesterday at work around 1pm. Just like any other Monday (19/8/13) I came to work reporting to my department (holiday’s unit) with my colleagues only to hear shocking news which was a result of an undergoing rumor for the past 3weeks. I started working at wakanow on the 20th of May 2013, as a fresh Graduate coming back into Nigeria from UK with my Masters Degree in International Tourism Management hoping to start my career with an online travel agency, unfortunately it has been my worst experience I must confess. I remember my first meeting with the MD; he mentioned something that always cross my mind which was “WHY DO EMPLOYESS ALWAYS COME AND LEAVE WAKANOW” well I believe I have the answer its “KOLA AJAYI” and his new partner you know yourself”.
From the period I started working at wakanow Mr Kola Ajayi has been harassing me with indirect messages, flirting and because I was not responding to all that, he has been threatening me with my job position. Harassment is something we know that can be taken to another level in the court of law but in this situation he spoke up first and I didn’t, I guess that’s the mistake I made. Am not writing this to get my position back I only want to inform my colleagues, the MD, DMD, HR MANAGER, OPERATIONS MANAGER and the future staffs of wakanow to know the corruptions going on in the company. Kola Ajayi asked me to resign out of frustration of not getting what he wanted from me and then sent KENNY (Kehinde T.) to follow up on his instruction with no concrete reason why I should leave my job. That’s exactly why I was dismissed. Its been nice working with you all. Have a nice day.
The harrassment, embarassment and constant fear needs to STOP! Stop intimidating people and threatening them with termination! Stop it!
Signed:
Frustrated Wakanow Staff
This is just one in a million....Workplace sexual harassment has become a systemic issue in our private and public service in Nigeria....the reasons for its unchecked growth and sustenance are not far-fetched:
ReplyDelete1. Our law and its enforcement procedures have not been made effective on this;
2. The victims hardly speak up as there is no assurance of justice or what happens after;
3. Victims that open up immediately lose the support of their colleagues and face victimization from their superiors, they are called all manner of names and indirectly punished in every opportunity in a bid to intimidate them and save their organization or friends what they consider an usual embarrassment.
4. Susceptible individuals do not seem to know their rights and have no strong resource centre to seek help from.
5. Above all, our environment’s precarious job situation with no fallback mechanisms (unemployment support) have not helped matter either.
Currently, we have a number of litigations on this subject and it has been an awesome experience with startling post-complains revelations.
However, my take is that responsible business owners, relevant government agencies, sane individuals, God-fearing social activists and civil societies need to rise up to this ugly situation before it destroys our society and work-life for vulnerable workers.
Let’s not pretend about this, the trend in the public sector is even unheard of....the women kept enduring, hoping that they will someday be moved to different departments or the harassing boss is no more.....Have you thought of the key reasons why the legislators and other government agencies seem to be doing nothing about this....
....Ok, maybe they don’t know or it is possible that majority of them are culprits/voiceless victims....notice also that you get serious cover-ups and gang-ups against anyone that opens up in most organizations.
However, if everyone speaks up after this manner (Chioma Mba) and, genuinely committed people adds their voices and weight, workplace sexual harassment would have reduced to the barest minimum in our society..........YOUR TAKE PLEASE!
This is just one in a million....Workplace sexual harassment has become a systemic issue in our private and public service in Nigeria....the reasons for its unchecked growth and sustenance are not far-fetched:
ReplyDelete1. Our law and its enforcement procedures have not been made effective on this;
2. The victims hardly speak up as there is no assurance of justice or what happens after;
3. Victims that open up immediately lose the support of their colleagues and face victimization from their superiors, they are called all manner of names and indirectly punished in every opportunity in a bid to intimidate them and save their organization or friends what they consider an usual embarrassment.
4. Susceptible individuals do not seem to know their rights and have no strong resource centre to seek help from.
5. Above all, our environment’s precarious job situation with no fallback mechanisms (unemployment support) have not helped matter either.
Currently, we have a number of litigations on this subject and it has been an awesome experience with startling post-complains revelations.
However, my take is that responsible business owners, relevant government agencies, sane individuals, God-fearing social activists and civil societies need to rise up to this ugly situation before it destroys our society and work-life for vulnerable workers.
Let’s not pretend about this, the trend in the public sector is even unheard of....the women kept enduring, hoping that they will someday be moved to different departments or the harassing boss is no more.....Have you thought of the key reasons why the legislators and other government agencies seem to be doing nothing about this....
....Ok, maybe they don’t know or it is possible that majority of them are culprits/voiceless victims....notice also that you get serious cover-ups and gang-ups against anyone that opens up in most organizations.
However, if everyone speaks up after this manner (Chioma Mba) and, genuinely committed people adds their voices and weight, workplace sexual harassment would have reduced to the barest minimum in our society..........YOUR TAKE PLEASE!
wow
ReplyDelete