Falling ‘Superstar Harassers’ Wake Companies Up: EEOC’s Feldblum (1)

Sometimes it takes the toppling of a superstar—and the related fallout from shareholders and others—to get major companies to seriously commit to eliminating sexual harassment, a commissioner at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says. Just two recent casualties at tech giant Alphabet Inc. underscore the danger.

“No big employer is going to take positive steps unless there is reaction, from their own employees, shareholders, whoever it is,” the EEOC’s Chai Feldblum said in an interview Oct. 31. “That’s part of bringing attention.”

When companies do act, they often try to handle sexual misconduct allegations quietly. But that can backfire.

Alphabet ...