[full statement from Mark McInnes below] This is awkward. When these allegations first came up a couple of months ago and DJs CEO Mark McInnes was forced to resign, I received many media calls asking for comment and many emails from readers asking me to post about it. I declined due to a conflict of interest. Mark McInnes is a family friend and I’ve known him since I was a kid.
Awkward. (Almost as awkward as it was today at the David Jones fashion show where there was one giant elephant in the room according to my friends who were there…..you can see the shots here).
But after wrestling with it, I’ve decided it’s too important a story for Mamamia to ignore. So I’m going to publish this post and then sit this one out -beyond emphatically stating that I believe what Mark did was wrong. And adding that I also know a very different side of him.
Retailer David Jones tolerated ongoing sexual misconduct by its chief executive Mark McInnes, according to a former publicist suing the company for more than $37 million.
Kristy Anne Fraser-Kirk also said when she complained about his conduct she was told: “Next time that happens, you just need to be very clear and say ‘no Mark’ and he’ll back off.”
Her complaints ultimately led to him resigning on June 18.
Mr McInnes admitted behaving “in a manner unbecoming of a chief executive to a female staff member” at two recent company functions.
After her statement of claim was lodged in the Federal Court on Monday, Ms Fraser-Kirk told reporters in Sydney she had just wanted to be treated with respect.
“I’m a young woman standing here today simply because I said it wasn’t OK, because I said that this should never happen to me, or to anyone,” the 27-year-old said.
One thing I will say is that I’ve noticed that there is a bit of a generational difference of attitudes on this one. What do you think?
UPDATE: 3:20PM, AUG 4
Mark McInnes issued a statement via his publicist Sue Cato at 2.40pm today:
“I offered my resignation to David Jones because I had behaved in a
manner unbecoming of a chief executive officer – I made mistakes and I
have acknowledge those mistakes. Having said that I reject many of the
recent specific allegations and legally I have no alternative other than
to vigorously contest them and I will.
It is public record that I left the company as soon as practicable to
try to minimise further impact and to allow the complainant to continue
her career with David Jones and to allow David Jones to continue to
focus on delivering shareholder value. I apologised to all concerned –
most particularly to the complainant. And I apologise again today.
My partner Lisa and I will be returning to Australia shortly to allow me
to begin working with my legal team. I ask that people allow the legal
process to run its course. I am restricted from further comments until
the appropriate time in that process.” – Mark McInnesUPDATE: 6pm
And now , Alannah Hill has issued an apology – this story just won’t quit.
“…one day after her comments were criticised for trivialising a serious situation, Hill went on Melbourne radio today to make an apology – of sorts.
“Look, I know they are really serious allegations and I’ve never really worked in the corporate sector, and I understand sexual harassment would be unbearable. I know people get so stressed they can’t even go to work. I feel terrible for that girl and I feel stupid for myself and I really, really humbly apologise.”
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Top Comments
Poor Mark McInnes but I think this is a good outcome
http://www.perthnow.com.au/...
Like the article says, Ms Fraser-Kirk may now be unemployable, McInnes's career is trashed, and the only real winners here are the legal team.
Maybe Kristy should have just tipped her drink over McInnes's head instead.
Sorry for the repost. The first one didn't come out properly.
--------------------
Thank you elle for your reply.
My user name (Katana) and the last sentence ...
'Mark McInnes is guilty … of being a man!'
... with the exclamation mark(!), obviously short circuited some assumptions on your part.
Actually, I am a man and my user name means 'sword' in Japanese.
You said:
"I’m sorry but in my world, a real man does not abuse his power and sexually harass his much younger female staff on multiple occasions. A real man does not make advances with other women when he has a partner at home about to have his baby. I can’t understand some of you women who support men who disrespect, harass and undermine women in the workplace."
A big FAIL here re human nature in your thinking. A real man does all this and MUCH more. A real female teases him along and MUCH more.
Kristy Kirk is just using the feminist inspired laws to rape us ALL and cash in. Normal decent females and males have been paying the price for all this.
Her case will just inspire the gold lust in other females. But, us males are left out of the gold rush it seems.
Perhaps we can start suing female employes for wearing mini skirts or anything that makes them out to be attractive and therefore constituting harassment?
Can I sue for eye damage when I see these sexy long legs flashing around the office?
"Would you still support a man like Mark McInnes if he was your boss and you were the one being sexually harassed while trying to work?"
Yes, because sexual harassment is a two way street. Females are attracted to male bosses and use their charms to get near them (and in Kirt's case sue them for added pleasure).
Mark McInnes and all men are being sexually harassed in their every waking moment!
The media is saturated with delicious your females parading their wares. David Jones, like every shop in in the world uses sex to sell.
What has changed over the last few decades or so is that feminist inspired laws have criminalized normal male and female behaviour to the female's advantage.
If McInnes tried to steal a kiss or put his hand near Kristy's special bra strap, does that deserve the attention of the courts, and multi million claims?
If you think she does, then you are not only thinking stupidly, but also short term in some sort of world with no consequences. The long term result of her unjust claim will be greater injustice to all of us over time.
I think his alleged 'unwanted' attention only deserved a smack on McInnes' hand (from Kirk) and a memo from management to Kirk to stop flirting with him.
"Why do you condemn and criticise Kristy Fraser-Kirk for standing up for something which is completely inappropriate but is all too often just condoned and put up with."
I condemn Kirk for not dealing with McInnes in an adult way, if that is really what she wanted. But I suspect that Kirk laid a honey trap for McInnes (she has complained about sexual harassment in another employment situation) and he took the bait, as any normal man in his situation would likely do.
"I am inspired and proud of women like Kristy who fight for the rights of women & condemn sexual harassment."
Then you are very being foolish, I have to say. Kristy's action is not fighting for the rights of women. It is using such sentiments for her own gain.
The fact that you are inspired and proud is a just sad. Sexual harassment laws are a disservice to all woman (and men) as it just leads to legal harassment against men and the resultant counter movement where both sexes lose out.
"Obviously all the allegations have not been proven, but Mark McInnes has already admitted to inappropriate conduct and there are a large number of female victims to support Kristy’s claims. I think women really need to support and encourage each other in cases like this, especially with sexual harassment which is incredibly widespread and all too often tolerated."
Women should not support this gold digging or anything like this even if McInnes shagged this little princess.
Kristy-hyphenated-Kirk should be punished financially and otherwise for the damage she has caused to McInnes and all concerned.
Katana
I think you may be overlooking the difference between mutual flirtation and violation of physical integrity without consent. If all of this were about Kristy Fraser-Kirk leading him on and then changing her story, I doubt DJs would have settled - settling says that they acknowledge fault. Fighting it says they don't.
Your broad assumptions that women all lust over their male bosses made me laugh at the pure idiocy of it. As a woman with a male boss who I don't find attractive or pursue in any way, I can assure you that I would feel violated if he sexually harassed me, I wouldn't enjoy it. I also wouldn't have been leading him on. Your arguments about short skirts encouraging men is insulting - not just to women, but to the men who are capable of acting in a respectful manner and using their brains rather than their penises.
I honestly hope you are here to troll, and I suspect you may very well be, otherwise I pity you for your troglodytic views. Do feel free to express them, though - they're quite a joy to read, though perhaps not in the way you intended.
Oh, and your suggestion of the "memo" that he stop harassing her...they tried that and it didn't work - or didn't you read the court submissions? Tsk tsk, no background research makes for a bad argument.
For the record, I was one of the women who posted the very unpopular view that I didn't agree with the $37m lawsuit and that I wasn't going to gush over KFK for her courage. So don't think I'm one of those people who supported her unconditionally. I didn't.
So may I just clarify that I take issue with your post not at a level of KFK discussion, which I've long stopped caring about, but your views generally with respect to sexual harassment.
If a homosexual boss were attracted to you, and you weren't interested - would YOU appreciate having them contact you asking for sex, trying to kiss you, etc?