Screw the Hierarchy

So here's the reality: most targets of workplace abuse, including illegal discrimination, don't file a claim. But when they do, around half settle with their employers. Why? Both sides want to avoid hefty legal fees, but employers have an added bonus: the merits of the case never get heard in court. To make sure the merits of the case never get heard ANYWHERE, they throw in a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), giving targets penalties for sharing their stories. By using NDAs to protect their reputations, employers don't prevent serial abusers from continuing their damage by moving onto the next target. Think Harvey Weinstein. But it's also happening in our state governments, meaning your tax dollars support serial abuse — and get in the way of democracy. A handful of states — Arizona, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington — passed bans on non-disclosure agreements to varying degrees. Known for being one of the most progressive states in the nation, Massachusetts isn't one of them. I spoke with Massachusetts State Senator Diana DiZoglio, who proposed legislation in Massachusetts to ban NDAs, about why it's crucial we ban them to protect targets of abuse of power and the myth around target confidentiality. (Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia have also proposed bans. Find out the bill numbers in your states and contact your state legislators to urge them to move the bill forward.) If you feel like you need more help, I have a free guide to recovery steps at dignitytogether.org/targets and a signup for daily boosts through your inbox at the same place. Facebook: @HierarchyPodcast Twitter: @ScrewHierarchy

A state worker with 16 years of service under her belt took over a higher level job — that a woman left — for three years without a pay increase. When she spoke up about her employer doing the right thing, her employer began what seemed a campaign to manage her out: withholding information, reprimanding her in a group meeting, removing responsibilities, ignoring emails for months, and moving her office. Find out what happened, how it affected her, where she is now, and her reflections on the whole experience. If you feel like you need more help, I have a free guide to recovery steps at dignitytogether.org/targets and a signup for daily boosts through your inbox at the same place. Facebook: @HierarchyPodcast Twitter: @ScrewHierarchy

The film Bombshell took viewers through the disturbing details of just how Fox News' Roger Ailes allegedly sexual harassed broadcast journalists Gretchen Carlson and Megyn Kelly. We know sexual harassment is just one type of abuse of power at work, and the film depicts Ailes using textbook tactics to exert his power. With co-host Seth Window, host of the Re-Define Summit, I dissect the top five ways Ailes abused. If you feel like you need more help, I have a free guide to recovery steps at dignitytogether.org/targets and a signup for daily boosts through your inbox at the same place. Facebook: @HierarchyPodcast Twitter: @ScrewHierarchy

What's this "screw the hierarchy" thing about? I'm talking about the social hierarchy that keeps white men in power positions at work and most of the rest of us out of them. We're left feeling robbed of our dignity, stuck in a state of anger, ruminating about what the hell happened, and desperately wanting to move forward with our lives. In this episode, I paint a picture of the hierarchy from which only some benefit. But it's not all doom and gloom. In this podcast, you'll find the validation and clarity you need to break free from the harmful effects of the hierarchy so you can heal from the trauma and re-define your life on your own terms — and no one else's. Let's screw the hierarchy and give everyone the dignity at work we rightfully deserve. If you feel like you need more help, I have a free guide to recovery steps at dignitytogether.org/targets and a signup for daily boosts through your inbox at the same place. Facebook: @HierarchyPodcast Twitter: @ScrewHierarchy