by Barry Spodak

About the author: Barry Spodak is cofounder of a management and training firm that specializes in the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Robert Samuelson’s [Samuelson is a syndicated columnist who writes on social and economic policy issues] critique of sexual harassment law reminded me of a recent conversation I had with a lawyer from a large media company. The lawyer had just finished telling me about a series of thorny sexual harassment problems that he had handled for his company, when with a wan smile he said, “I just don’t ever meet alone with female employees anymore.”

This man was echoing what I had been hearing with increasing frequency from corporate executives from across the country. I pointed out that by isolating himself from...