Meet the Facilitator:

Danny Carr
Anti-Corruption Specialist/Criminologist

Mr. Danny Carr holds a Master of Arts Degree (Magna Cum Laude) in Anti-Corruption Studies from the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Austria. This post-graduate degree designates him as an anti-corruption and compliance specialist in both the public and private sectors. His specialty includes Behavioural and Institutional Economic Approaches to Anti-corruption and Integrity in Public Life. Danny has conducted extensive research on how professional integrity can be leveraged to build stronger institutions in both the private and public sectors in Trinidad and Tobago and has produced empirical work on how building a culture of integrity and compliance can be used as an effective strategy to reduce behavioural challenges within organizations. He has over ten years of experience in conducting workshops and lectures both face-to-face and online. He has lectured on the topic of integrity and ethics to undergraduate students, police officers (of all ranks), teachers, and executive members of various NGOs. Danny is currently a part-time Lecturer at the University of the West Indies, and also holds a Master of Science Degree (Distinction) in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and a Bachelor of Science Degree (Hons.) in Sociology, from The University of the West Indies.

Don't be Mitsubishi!

Written by Danny Carr
Anti-Corruption Specialist/Criminologist

Mitsubishi is a multinational company originating from Japan, with branches all over the world including in America. Mitsubishi is well known for its range of motor vehicles, but also became a notorious case study of a typical integrity violation in many companies. That is, the failure of supervisors and managers to take decisive action when staff members report that they have been a victim of sexual harassment or bullying in the workplace. This failure to act can have serious negative consequences. For starters, it helps to create a toxic work environment where workers feel unsafe, anxious, and stressed. These negative experiences can lead to low productivity, explosive conflicts, poor internal and external customer service and unnecessary tension between workers and the organization. Furthermore, failing to address reports of sexual harassment or bullying may lead to embarrassing headlines for the company and can sometimes result in expensive lawsuits.

Let us return to the old, but classic example of the Mitsubishi case in Illinois, America in 1996. Many women at that company had complained to their supervisors and managers that they were being sexually harassed by their colleagues on a regular basis, and in the most horrendous ways possible. Some women complained they were called 'bitch' and other derogatory terms; they were often fondled or asked to provide sexual services (LA times ). According to the women, this pattern of harassment, and inaction by supervisors and managers despite numerous reports, continued for over six years (Compliancetraininggroup.com ). Eventually a class action suit was brought against Mitsubishi involving over 300 female workers. As can be expected, the matter became public causing much embarrassment to the company. Mitsubishi eventually agreed to a $34 million dollar settlement, which at the time was "the largest such settlement on record in a corporate case" (latimes.com ).

Hence managers and supervisors play a pivotal role in protecting employees and the company from the damaging effects of sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace. Since taking the appropriate action is a matter of integrity, managers and supervisors require regular integrity training at least once per year. Leaders must be able to clearly identify what constitutes sexual harassment in the workplace, what constitutes workplace bullying, what to do when they witness these acts, and what to do when someone makes such a report to them. Knowing what to do in the case of such reports is a sure way to protect workers, the company and promote a non-toxic work environment. Don’t be another Mitsubishi!