Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Gregory Campbell
Abstract
Sexual harassment is an issue that can plague any organization, especially ones that do not have a formal complaint process or is built on a system based on hierarchy. Most notably, some federal judges abused their power based on a system that did not have any checks and balances in place as preventative measure against harassment. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore female federal judiciary employees’ understanding of employee protection principles extended to staff of the judicial branch, and to assess whether female federal judiciary employees were aware of reporting mechanisms for acts of misconduct. The research questions used to guide the study were based on the perceptions of female federal judiciary employees regarding reporting misconduct and existing employee protection principles in the judicial branch of government. Narrative policy framework was the theoretical framework used for this study, which is centered upon the role of storytelling in the policy making process. A case study design, including secondary analysis of interviews with three employees, was used to elucidate experiences. The findings revealed female federal judiciary employees were hesitant and fearful to report acts of misconduct. In addition, other attributes such as power disparities, lack of accountability, and reporting challenges contributed to underreporting. By acknowledging employees’ hesitancy to report misconduct, the implication for positive social change is the creation of procedures and policies to ensure victims of misconduct are heard and effective organizational responses are put in place to combat harassment in the workplace.
Recommended Citation
Martin, Christina M., "An Exploration of Fairness, Judicial Independence and Employee Protections" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13555.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13555
