#MeToo Backlash Has Employers Telling Staff Not to Overcorrect

Some employers are worried that the #MeToo movement could hurt women down the line, so they are training their human resources teams to avert unwanted repercussions of the sexual harassment “great awakening.”

One of the trickiest tasks may be ensuring that employees don’t take sexual harassment prevention to an extreme by avoiding their co-workers altogether.

“Some men thought or said they’re worried ‘anything we say or do will get me in trouble, so I’ll avoid the problem,’” Jonathan Segal, a partner at Duane Morris LLP, said during a Jan. 17 sexual harassment webinar. “Avoidance is not a solution. It’s called ...