Head of Texas’ top business group sued for sexual assault – The Texas Tribune

Report on Allegations of Misconduct Against Texas Association of Business CEO and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A lawsuit has been filed against Glenn Hamer, President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business (TAB), alleging sexual harassment, assault, and professional retaliation. The case highlights significant challenges to the achievement of key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The plaintiff, identified as the founder of the Texas Venture Alliance (TVA), is seeking over $10 million in damages, naming both Hamer and TAB as defendants. In response, TAB has placed Hamer on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

Analysis of Allegations in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The lawsuit presents a direct challenge to the principles of SDG 5, which calls for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. The allegations detail a pattern of behavior that undermines gender equality in professional environments.

• Abuse of Power: The plaintiff alleges Hamer used his influential position to pursue a relationship, thereby exploiting a power imbalance.
• Sexual Harassment and Assault: The filing documents multiple instances of alleged sexual harassment and assault, including a specific incident in May where Hamer allegedly attempted to remove the plaintiff’s clothing.
• Coercion and Intimidation: The lawsuit describes Hamer’s alleged behavior as turning into “sinister intimidation,” including stalking, which creates an unsafe environment for women in the workplace and contravenes the goal of ending all forms of violence against women.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The case raises critical issues related to SDG 8, which advocates for safe and secure working environments and the protection of labor rights. The alleged retaliation directly impacts the plaintiff’s right to decent work and economic participation.

1. Professional Retaliation: After his advances were rejected, Hamer is accused of launching a “smear campaign” to damage the plaintiff’s reputation and professional relationships.
2. Economic Sabotage: The lawsuit claims Hamer actively worked to undermine the plaintiff’s organization, the Texas Venture Alliance, by:
   • Redirecting a planned donation away from TVA.
   • Assisting in the formation of a competitor organization.
   • Appropriating the plaintiff’s ideas and business plans for competing entities.
3. Unsafe Work Environment: The alleged actions created a hostile and insecure professional environment, directly conflicting with Target 8.8 of the SDGs, which aims to protect labor rights and promote safe working conditions for all workers.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The integrity of business and political institutions, a cornerstone of SDG 16, is questioned by the lawsuit. The case scrutinizes institutional accountability and access to justice.

• Institutional Liability: The Texas Association of Business is named as a defendant for being “vicariously liable,” with the lawsuit alleging the organization failed to implement policies to prevent such conduct despite knowledge of prior behavior. This points to a weakness in institutional governance and accountability.
• Access to Justice: The report notes Hamer’s lobbying efforts in support of Senate Bill 30, which sought to limit damages victims could claim in personal injury cases, including those resulting from sexual assault. Such legislative efforts can be seen as creating barriers to effective legal remedies for victims, undermining the SDG 16 goal of ensuring equal access to justice for all.
• Systemic Failures: The incident is contextualized within a broader history of sexual misconduct allegations linked to the Texas Capitol, suggesting a systemic issue that requires stronger, more transparent, and accountable institutions to address.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article’s central theme is a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, assault, and professional retaliation against a woman by a powerful male CEO. This directly addresses the goal of achieving gender equality by highlighting violence and discrimination against women in the professional sphere.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The allegations describe an unsafe and hostile work environment. The accused allegedly used his professional position to harass the victim and later retaliated by damaging her professional reputation and interfering with her organization’s funding. This connects to the goal of promoting safe and secure working environments and protecting labor rights.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article revolves around a legal action (a lawsuit) as a means to seek justice for alleged crimes. It also implicates the Texas Association of Business (TAB) as an institution, alleging it was “vicariously liable” for failing to have policies to prevent such actions. Furthermore, it touches upon the legislative process and attempts to influence laws related to damages for victims of personal injury, including sexual assault.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The alleged actions of harassment, assault, and professional retaliation based on the rejection of sexual advances constitute severe gender-based discrimination.
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. The lawsuit explicitly alleges multiple instances of sexual harassment and assault, which are forms of violence against women.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The alleged abuse of a leadership position to coerce and then professionally sabotage a female entrepreneur directly undermines her equal opportunity and participation in economic life.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. The article describes a working relationship that became unsafe and insecure due to alleged stalking, harassment, and assault. The lawsuit’s claim that TAB failed to adopt preventative policies points to a failure in ensuring a safe work environment.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The alleged sexual assault is a form of violence that this target aims to reduce.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The victim filing a lawsuit is a direct example of an attempt to access the justice system. The article also mentions the perpetrator’s lobbying efforts for Senate Bill 30, which sought to cap damages for victims of events like sexual assault, potentially limiting equal access to justice.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The lawsuit holds the Texas Association of Business accountable, alleging it lacked proper policies. The organization’s response of placing the CEO on administrative leave and launching an internal investigation is a step towards institutional accountability.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 5 Targets:
   • Implied Indicator for Target 5.2 (related to 5.2.2): The number of reported cases of sexual violence by non-partners. The lawsuit itself is a data point, representing a formal report of sexual harassment and assault in a professional context. The article also references a broader “culture of sexual harassment” at the Capitol, implying a history of such incidents.
2. For SDG 8 Targets:
   • Implied Indicator for Target 8.8 (related to 8.8.1): The prevalence of non-fatal occupational harm, including psychological harm and harassment. The lawsuit details actions like stalking, harassment, and assault within a professional setting, which can be measured as instances of occupational harm.
3. For SDG 16 Targets:
   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.3 (related to 16.3.1): The proportion of victims of violence who report their victimization to competent authorities. The filing of the lawsuit in Travis County is a direct measure of a victim reporting their experience to a formal justice mechanism.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.6 (related to 16.6.2): The existence and enforcement of institutional policies on harassment and accountability. The lawsuit’s claim that TAB failed “to adopt policies to prevent such actions” serves as a negative indicator. Conversely, the board’s decision to conduct an “internal investigation” is an indicator of an institution’s response mechanism.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: texastribune.org