APNewsBreak: Report charts history of abuse at Grand Canyon (but, there is NO war on women!)

[niyad]

(geez, it only took the IG"s office a 16 months to release the report)


APNewsBreak: Report charts history of abuse at Grand Canyon

By Associated Press | January 12, 2016 @ 8:45 am


FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A new report by a federal watchdog outlines a history of harassment on river trips through Grand Canyon National Park in which male park employees allegedly propositioned female colleagues for sex, touched them inappropriately and made lewd comments. The report obtained by The Associated Press comes after 13 current and former Grand Canyon employees filed a complaint in September 2014 saying women had been abused over 15 years. It was released Tuesday by the Department of the Interior’s Office of Inspector General.

About a dozen people have faced disciplinary action for sexual misconduct since 2003, ranging from a written reprimand to termination. But investigators say those actions are inconsistent, and many alleged incidents go unreported or aren’t properly vetted by supervisors.

One longtime human resources official interviewed by investigators said a “laissez faire” attitude exists of “what happens on the river, stays on the river.” Grand Canyon officials until recently allowed river rafters to bring alcohol on the trips.

A National Parks Service spokesman said the agency has zero tolerance for the behavior cited in the report.

“No NPS employee should ever experience the kind of behavior outlined in the report, and it is even more disappointing because previous efforts to change the culture at the River District of the grand Canyon failed to improve working conditions,” NPS spokesman James Doyle said in an email. He said the agency is mulling more changes, including requiring nightly check-in calls, having a supervisor on every river trip and establishing an ombudsman.


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http://ktar.com/story/847913/apnewsbreak-report-charts-history-of-abuse-at-grand-canyon

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Uncalled for.

Kept hearing these stories through our Company Grape Vine. Working at the Canyon was a sweet deal for anyone who enjoyed the out doors. Now I understand why the turnover. Until the top people go,this is not going to change. Know the Culture!

[niyad]

2. sadly, you are quite correct.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Believe there are two Contractors

that have run the Park Services and Venues. Know the Culture of one of the Contractors after a couple of decades in another Service related division. Like most Corporations it is top down and who your District VP is and that as a rule determines work place outcomes. Sad to say,if you crank the numbers,well that is all that matters,let Legal take care of the people issues.

[niyad]

4. that is one sad commentary on the system, which is as firmly entrenched as ever.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. National Park Service struggles with budgets and

people issues on a daily basis. In saying that,much like Private Industry,you have people issues going on. Fastest way to get of a problem is to move it somewhere else or promote it. That is what is going on at the Canyon. First thing is the pay structure at Park Service,it sucks and there for what you see is what you get. Long hours and low pay except for the Managers and they will do the CYA. When you hire family and friends,you know were that leads and there in lies many of the personnel issues.

[niyad]

7. so, apparently, very little chance for true change.

[Wellstone ruled]

8. On the surface maybe.

Under the false front,until top people go,nothing changes. To many dollars and to many Politicians in the mix. Remember,there is this issue of Privatizing a portion of the East Canyon,and that is on hold but that has not gone away. Millions of Tourist's and millions of dollars.

[niyad]

5. . . .