In January, Respect Outside (RO) officially launched its campaign to end gender bias and sexual harassment in the outdoor industry. Citing a need for prevention-based trainings that speak to the adventurous, wild-natured employees of the industry, co-founders Gina McClard and Jim Miller created their Equity Through Action method, which aims to unearth, unfurl and undo the deeply held bias and prejudice that lead to harmful attitudes and behaviors in the workplace.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports that 2018 saw a 50 percent increase in sexual harassment lawsuits over 2017. Overall, the federal agency recovered nearly $70 million in 2018 for targets of sexual harassment. The conclusion is obvious: ending workplace harassment is good for business and for employees. Miller, a longtime member of the outdoor industry, says of their mission, “Outdoor enthusiasts have a certain code of ethics: We respect the environment, lead by example to educate newcomers and foster trust among groups. Our objective is to bring these principles into the workplace to make our industry one of respect and inclusion. A big part of this is helping organizations create policies that reinforce their core values and ensure that equity and civility are as ingrained in the workplace culture as they are in the culture of the outdoors itself.”
To create an outdoor industry free of harassment and discrimination, Respect Outside offers:
- Employee Sexual Misconduct Training, Executive-Suite Coaching and HR management solutions that meet state and federal requirements.
- Prevention-based education, safe reporting practices and moving forward after incidents of harassment and discrimination.
- Messaging that speaks to the unique persona of the outdoor employee/ business, including manufacturers, retailers, outfitters, nonprofits, government agencies, camps and universities.
