The “She Means Business” education session at IMEX in Frankfurt. Photo: IMEX Group
We’ve all done the talk, saying the right things when it comes to addressing sexual harassment in the meeting and event industry.
Sexual harassment is wrong and it doesn’t belong in our business, or any other workplace, or at any event or social gathering or anywhere else for that matter.
The social movements #MeToo and #TimesUp are very real, and it’s time for our industry to look within and get real serious about it, too.
Well, that proverbial light at the end of tunnel is starting to flicker more brightly. The meeting and event community has finally put its collective strength behind a coalition of nine industry organizations determined to eliminate sexual harassment within the meeting industry and in the workplace.
The unified effort, led by leaders and executives from each group and called The Events Industry Sexual Harassment Task Force, will focus on broader policies to address the issue of sexual harassment and to provide tools and resources to assist in educating the industry about sexual harassment.
“We are stronger together,” says Amanda Armstrong, chair of the MPI Board of Directors. “With any successful social change, it starts with a united message and commitment. The organizations that are part of the coalition are the premier organizations in our industry. Without their support, making progress on this important issue would be even more challenging.”
To be fair, each organization has been addressing sexual harassment prevention separately, including MPI, which has proactively taken steps to demonstrate that it will not tolerate harassment in its global community and to educate members on how to prevent, report and respond to harassment, whether at an event organized by MPI Global, its chapters or in the workplace. We’re implementing annual non-harassment training for all staff, board members and chapter volunteer leaders; establishing a confidential, independently serviced harassment hotline for complaints to be raised and investigated; and addressing the issue and prevention advice in your member magazine, The Meeting Professional, as well as blog posts.
Our great friends at IMEX are stepping up, too. The recently completed IMEX show in Frankfurt included an inaugural half-day education program, She Means Business, devoted to increasing awareness of issues including sexual harassment, health and safety, gender inequality and workplace issues. More than 400 attendees—20 percent were men—heard a power-packed lineup of speakers share personal experiences and offer advice, encouragement and inspiration.
The response was so positive that IMEX is considering including a similar discussion at future shows.
Carrie Abernathy, CMP, CEM, CSEP, past president and co-founder of the Association for Women in Events (AWE), and Kiki J. Fox, president and co-founder of AWE, rallied the industry leaders to establish the coalition.
“It’s imperative that our organizations present a united front against sexual harassment in the industry,” Fox says. “Together, we are declaring zero tolerance for behavior that harasses or discriminates.”
In addition to MPI, the coalition includes the following.
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American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
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AWE
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Events Industry Council (EIC)
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IMEX
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International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)
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Joint Meeting Industry Council (JMIC)
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Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
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Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE)
Nicole Edmund, MPI’s vice president for community, who will also work with the coalition, says the #MeToo movement has “certainly changed the conversations within companies and has generated so much more awareness of what women (and even men) could be facing in the workplace,” and believes the coalition is a positive next step.
“When people come together, it provides the opportunity to have real and productive conversation about the issue,” she says. “We, as a coalition, and as leaders in our perspective organizations in this industry, can pool together resources, speak with one unified voice and be a part of the solution to fight and end sexual harassment in our industry and in our workplaces. This coalition unifies our voices, making us stronger.”
End sexual harassment now.
Until next time…
Rich Luna
Editor in Chief
rluna@mpiweb.org
themeetingprofessionaldigital.org
Watch an MPItv video in our digital edition to learn more about MPI lifetime member Howard Feiertag. Visit www.mpiweb.org/mpi-tv to watch MPItv video coverage from the MPI World Education Congress throughout June.
