A Pentagon training video attempts to show how domestic and civilian employees should deal with a boss who gropes them.
A video made by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI), which offers education and training for military active duty, reservists, and civilians, shows a male employee having to deal with his boss Miguel who is "too close for comfort."
The head of the DEOMI, Army Col. Morris "Reese" Turner, was reassigned and put under investigation late last year for "inappropriate touching," according to Military Times.
"I’ve worked with Miguel for about two months now," the employee says, as images of the boss doing his best Joe Biden impression, massaging the employee’s shoulders, rubbing his belly, grabbing his cheeks, and running his hands through his hair..
"By all accounts he’s a great boss," he said. "Just a little touchy feely for my liking. Listen I don’t have space issues but I don’t believe you have to touch me to talk to me. You can get my attention without grabbing me."
"Besides I don’t know where your hands have been," the employee continues. "I asked some of my co‐workers if they felt uncomfortable with Miguel touching them, of course they all blew it off. They said that’s just the way he is. And Wham, there’s Miguel again with his lack of personal space."
"I know he doesn’t mean anything by it but come on," he said. "Other people might not mind being touched or dragged unwillingly into a boxing match. But, look I like Miguel he’s helped me a lot on this job, but I wish he would quit with the touching. And I don’t even like boxing!"
The training awareness video said it "depicts realistic workplace scenarios," and opens with a disclaimer: "Please be aware some of the language and images used in this scenario may be offensive."
At the end of the video, DEOMI gives the viewer options to address the situation. The correct response, according to DEOMI, is to solve the issue at the "lowest level," since Miguel "may not realize that his actions are viewed as inappropriate."