Last week the board of directors of the Producers Guild of America (PGA), a nonprofit trade group that “promotes the interests of all members of the producing team,” approved unanimously a set of anti–sexual harassment guidelines “as first steps to preventing and responding to harassment in the workplace.”
The PGA set up a task force to address the sexual harassment in the entertainment business in October, following revelations on the conduct of Harvey Weinstein, who resigned from the PGA just ahead of being expelled.
The eight-page document begins with a section on how to identify sexual harassment, then moves on to a series of recommendations, followed by a suggested protocol for handling complaints. There are also three short appendices: the first a one-paragraph “history and background on harassment law” and the other two are lists of resources.
PGA Presidents Gary Lucchesi and Lori McCreary said:
The Task Force’s work is not finished; the Guidelines are likely to change as our industry explores new approaches to this problem and as new resources become available. The PGA will continue to work with TIME’S UP and the industry commission chaired by Anita Hill. But for the multitude of producers urgently seeking guidance on how to proceed with their work while holding a firm line against harassment, we believe this document will prove invaluable.
The guidelines list seven recommendations:
- First and foremost, all productions comply with federal and state laws regarding harassment.
- Each production, in whatever medium or budget level, provides in-person anti-sexual harassment (ASH) training for all members of the cast and crew, prior to the beginning of production …
- Each production continue to be vigilant in efforts to prevent sexual harassment during the production process.
- Each production offer reporting procedures …
- Reports of harassment are listened to with attention and empathy.
- Producers be alert for any possibility of retaliation …
- [C]onduct all meetings and/or casting sessions in an environment that is professional, safe and comfortable for all parties …
Visit the PGA website for the letter from the group’s presidents and to view the approved guidelines.
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