#MeToo in the Corporate World: Power, Privilege, and the Path Forward – Data-Driven Solutions for Executives to Create Safe, Inclusive Workplaces

Economist and award-winning author Sylvia Ann Hewlett blends vivid stories with powerful new data in assessing the impact of the #MeToo movement in corporate America and provides concrete action to help executives and companies create more inclusive and safe work environments for women, people of color, and LGBTQ employees.While the #MeToo movement has exposed the enormous harm done by sexual misconduct in the workplace, the movement’s full promise has not been fulfilled, Sylvia Ann Hewlett argues. Showcasing new data on the incidence of sexual harassment and assault at work, she reveals how the movement has focused almost exclusively on white women and failed to support other vulnerable groups who are also targets of abuse. Black men, gay men and women, and Latinas experience particularly high rates of sexual harassment and assault.In addition to exploring the movement’s limitations, Hewlett examines the collateral damage inflicted by #MeToo. She looks at hits to the bottom line (lawsuits and settlements, tarnished brands, and stock devaluations) and hits to the talent pipeline. In particular she shows how male leaders, fearful of gossip and legal action, are increasingly skittish about sponsoring young women, no matter how high performing they are. This makes it much more likely that women will stall out mid-career and will deprive companies of diversity in the C-Suite and “gender smarts” around decision-making tables. Digging deep into examples that range from Fox News, Nike, and Google to CBS, Michigan State University, and the Catholic Church, Hewlett lays bare the financial losses associated with sexual misconduct scandals. No wonder corporate chief risk officers newly have #MeToo in their line of sight!A third of this book is devoted to solutions and Hewlett offers a three-pronged strategy, combining legal remedies with individual and corporate action steps that can be used to protect employees and businesses they work for. Drawing from companies as different as IBM and IPG she discusses “experiments at the edge” as well as more evolved initiatives that can help any corporation create a more equitable and safer environment.Hewlett’s data-driven analysis provides a new playbook for leaders navigating this complex new reality:Diversity and Inclusion: Reveals why the #MeToo movement has often failed women of color and LGBTQ employees, and how to build a truly inclusive culture that protects everyone.Hits to the Bottom Line: A clear-eyed look at the real financial costs of misconduct, analyzing the lawsuits, brand damage, and stock devaluations at major corporations like Nike, Google, and Fox News.The Talent Pipeline: Tackles the unintended consequences of #MeToo, where fearful male leaders avoid sponsoring high-performing women—and what companies can do to fix this crucial break in advancement.Men as Prey & Women as Predators: Moves beyond the standard narrative to explore the often-ignored dynamics of sexual misconduct, including cases where men are victims and women are the aggressors.Actionable Solutions: Offers a detailed strategy combining legal remedies, individual actions, and corporate best practices from companies like IBM to create safer, more equitable workplaces. Read more