WE KNOW PURITY, NOT ONLY BY REASON AND LAW, BUT ALSO BY THE HEART

     In the workplace, there is one topic more sensitive than politics or religion: sexual harassment.  to some, it's merely a nuisance-something that has cast a pall of uneasiness over once-begign office banter.  But to its victims, sexual harassment is a real threat that destroys careers and friendships-and sometimes, entire companies.

    One company's employee manual states that the average monetary award in a sexual harassment case is $237,660.  The average cost a compny incurs to defend such a case is $300,000.  And these costs are just the beginning.

     A study by Working Woman magazine revealed that the typical Fortune 500 company loses $6.7 million a year in absenteeism, employee turnover, low morale, and decreased productivity related to sexual harassment.  But the most serious casualties aren't monetary.  They are the women (and quite often men) who suffer with anger, fear, anxiety, humiliation, and allienation t the hands of this corporate scourge.  Victims also have reported a variety of health problems, including insomnia, eating disorders, and acute depression.

     Don't let sexual harassment be part of your work environment.  Choose your words carefully.  Be careful about the nature and tone of stories or jokes.  When in doubt, DON'T.  Be respectful of varying individual comfort levels with things like huge and pats on the back.  And if there's any doubt-hands off.

"Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." ~ 1 TIMOTHY 4:12