Expert's note: This is how you will precede a remedy for troublemakers

In recent years, there have been complaints from all sides about sexual harassment against talents - managers, editors, presenters, actors and writers - prominent in various media.

Despite this, it seems that those same media have learned nothing.

What can still be done?

An expert in labor law explains

Hila Erel Shemesh, guest column

09/01/2022

Sunday, 09 January 2022, 13:24 Updated: 14:33

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Almost all media outlets are in a hurry to publish that the 'recalcitrant' talent has gone on holiday until the details of the complaints become clear

In an interview with the Walla website, actor Yehuda Nahari claimed that TV presenter Assi Ezer sexually harassed him about a decade ago. According to Nahari, in a meeting between them during the preparations for the TV series "Being With Her", he helped "touch his organ and said 'look what you are causing me'. I said I was not interested." According to the publication, Nahari Nahari filed a complaint with the police about a year ago and it was closed due to the statute of limitations.

Ezer's main employer, the Keshet TV franchise in which he serves as a leading talent, was quick to respond, announcing that "to our understanding Asi denies the said details and in any case the issue is now clearly clear."

Aside from the testimony against Ezer, which will probably become clear later, Keshet's automatic and embarrassing response is also disturbing.

In recent years, there have been complaints from all sides about sexual harassment against talents - managers, editors, presenters, actors and writers - prominent in various media.

Despite this, it seems that those same media have learned nothing.

Each time again they are caught with the pants down, and act in a way that mainly reflects helplessness and stuttering.

Almost all media outlets are in a hurry to publish that the 'recalcitrant' talent has gone on holiday until the details of the complaints become clear.

Some post a partial or complete waiver notice (depending on the severity of the complaints usually), some back up (but leave an opening for a change of position), some give a laconic response from which nothing can be understood and some prefer not to respond at all.

Common to all the references are the considerable embarrassment and the feeling that the media body did not anticipate at all the whirlpool into which it found itself and feared harm to its good name.

More on Walla!

Asi Ezer disappeared from the promos;

It appears that a request is not currently being taken

To the full article

Asi Ezer, Erez Driggs, Roi (Chiki) Arad (Photo: Reuven Castro, Shuka Cohen)

Embarrassing stuttering

It does not refer to a certificate of integrity from the police or a statement of criminal record (even if it exists), but an ethical, moral statement

History shows that it may be time for the same media outlets that are strengthening talents to consider in advance the possibility that beloved talents will be caught along the way in a situation that includes complaints of harassment or sexual assault.

Taking such an option into account will allow them to prepare for the situation before paying a fortune for one talent or another for a prestigious broadcast slot that could end up in an awkward stutter.

Such preparation should include extensive explanations about sexual harassment, such as those in large corporations and other workplaces, a requirement that must also be met with the talents and more - a prerequisite from a potential talent to declare 'proper disclosure' before engaging with him. In the agreement, certainly if it is long-term and certain when it comes to considerable sums and a good name.

In this case a preliminary statement - which does not include skeletons of sexual assault in a closet from the past - can prevent the surprise or at the very least minimize the damage.

It does not mean a certificate of integrity from the police or a statement of criminal record (even if it exists), but an ethical, moral statement.

Such a statement in itself when written has a reciprocal and clear statement: a person who declares that he has not committed sexual assault is likely to look inward and ask himself whether he has not actually committed such and whether complaints or allegations against him are likely to be published.

Every man knows his secret.

He is likely to consider his steps.

Alleged sexual harassment also in the GLC (Photo: Nimrod Saunders)

The deterrent effect

In the IDF, for example, every officer of the rank of colonel or higher is required to undergo a polygraph examination that includes ethical and moral questions.

Sounds ridiculous to you?

In the IDF, for example, every officer of the rank of colonel or higher is required to undergo a polygraph examination that includes ethical and moral questions.

So maybe civil society is not committed to polygraph (some companies actually use such a practice) but asking for a proper disclosure statement that includes the company's policy of zero tolerance in the past, present and future, sends a very important message - to its employees and consumers.

True, there may well be a situation where despite the statement there will be complaints that will be denied by the talent, ones that he will claim he does not remember or that everything was in agreement.

And yet, the very written advance statement is a move that alone will promote and realize the deterrent effect.

What exists in the "normal" world of work, such as raising awareness of the issue of sexual harassment must exist in the counting of media outlets for both employees and other factors that work with them (like talents of the auxiliary type) and not in retrospect but in advance.

There is an opportunity here instead of putting out fires it is worth investing resources and thought in ways to prevent ‘surprising’ revelations from the past and prevent harassment and sexual assault in the present and future.

In this way, the media will be perceived as more moral, will contribute to the promotion of the issue as a whole - and also a bonus - will save themselves the embarrassment and renunciation, not to mention the financial losses and damage to reputation.

• Brenze

Tags

• Rainbow

• Assi Azar

• Erez Driggs