RealWorld Training and Consulting

Resources

New additions will be made to this list monthly. If you would like to suggest resources that should be added to this list, please contact us.

This Month's Pick:

A National Report Card on Women in Firefighting by Denise M. Hulett, Marc Benedick Jr, Sheila Y. Thomas and Francine Moccio. April 2008. This is one of the most comprehensive recent studies of the status of women in firefighting, detailing the specific obstacles women face and what needs to happen to increase the numbers of women in the profession. Go to www.i-women.org to download the document.

Resource Archive

Leadership and Change Management
Conflict Resolution
Diversity Issues
Internet Resources
Video Resources

Leadership and Change Management

The Leadership Moment: Nine True Stories of Triumph and Disaster and their Lessons for Us All by Michael Useem. Three Rivers Press, 1998. This book tells nine very different stories of leadership, from Civil War battles to the fight against river blindness in Africa. Specific leadership lessons are drawn from each case study. The chapter profiling Gene Krantz, mission control leader for Apollo 13, was a new and compelling take on a familiar story.

Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More than IQ by Daniel Goleman. Bantam Books, 1995, new edition 2005. This book, written more than 10 years ago, has become a classic work in determining the factors that lead to success beyond standard measurements. There are many spin-offs to this book, but the original is still worth reading.

The Memory Jogger: A Pocket Guide of Tools for Continuous Improvement and Effective Planning by Michael Brassard and Diane Ritter. GOAL/QPC 1994. This small spiral bound book includes dozens of examples of planning and management tools, each with a clear explanation and tips for success. No theory here, just practical application. An incredible amount of useful information in a very small space.

Tough Training Topics: A Presenter's Survival Guide by Steve Albrecht. Pfeiffer/John Wiley Publishers, 2006. This book contains a wealth of practical information for presenters in any format, but is especially focused on the challenges associated with the tough training topics such as harassment prevention, conflict resolution, workplace violence prevention, and performance evaluation, among others. The first part of the book clearly outlines key points for good presentations and would be useful for all presenters, regardless of their topic or experience.

Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Decision-Making by Sam Kaner et. al. New Society Publishers, 1996. This is a very accessible book that is full of practical tips for better management of decision making processes. The book includes charts, diagrams, check lists, case studies, and specific activities.

The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything by Stephen M. R. Covey. Free Press, 2006. "Leadership is getting results in a way that inspires trust." This statement summarizes the focus of this book which looks at the various levels of trust and credibility as critical aspects of leadership. If you have read any of the author's father's work (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People etc.), much about this book will seem familiar. But it is always worth hearing again.

The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz. Harper Collins Publishers, 2004. Does having more options in our lives make us happier? Can having too many choices actually make people unhappier or less effective in decision making? What strategies do people use when their choices seem to expand nearly infinitely? These questions are addressed with wit and insight in this accessible and well researched book.

Judgment Days: Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr. And the Laws that Changed America by Nick Kotz. Houghton-Mifflin 2005. This fascinating book describes the often complex and contradictory circumstances that led to the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the 1968 Civil Rights Act, which guaranteed equal housing protections. This is impressive and important research presented in a highly readable format.

Leading at the Edge: Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition by Dennis N.T. Perkins with Margaret P. Holtman, Paul R. Kessler and Catherine McCarthy. Amacom Press, 2000. This book uses the amazing survival story of Ernest Shackleton’s failed 1914 Antarctic expedition as the basis for forming ten essential lessons about leadership. The book includes many details from the original accounts of the expedition, as well as making some interesting comparisons with other similar expeditions that had much less favorable outcomes.

The Ethics Edge edited by Evan M. Berman, Jonathan P. West & Stephen J. Bonczek. ICMA Practical Management Series, 1998. This book consists of twenty different articles and essays about workplace ethical challenges. There is a wide variety of approaches and styles, and the writing is both academically sound and accessible.

Lateral Thinking Puzzles by Paul Sloan, Sterling Publishers, 1991. This is one of a series of small books filled with brain teaser puzzles that require creative "lateral" rather than linear thinking. These can be fun to use as ice breakers or group problem solving challenges.

The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam. Fawcett Publications, 1972. This is a classic and incredibly detailed study of the circumstances and leadership decisions that led the U.S. into involvement in the Vietnam War. Fascinating, readable, and all too timely.

102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn. Times Books, 2005. This harrowing and riveting narrative describes the choices and many acts of heroism among those who were trapped in the World Trade Center as well as those who came to rescue them. There are countless lessons about leadership at its most essential level. You won't be able to put it down.

Grassroots and Nonprofit Leadership: A Guide for Organizations in Changing Times by Berit Lakey, George Lakey, Rod Napier and Janice Robinson. New Society Publishers, 1995. Although written with nonprofit organizations in mind, this book has much to offer organizations that are trying to clarify their missions, manage staff and volunteers, and deal with change.

Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future by Margaret J. Wheatley. Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2002. Meg Wheatley is one of this country's leading voices on management theory, but this is not your typical management book. Instead, Dr. Wheatley combines short essays, poetry, queries and stories to promote conversations about what kind of future we want to create.

Making Meetings Work: Achieving High Quality Group Decisions by John E. Tropman, Sage Publications, 1996. This book goes well beyond common wisdom and feel-good rhetoric and takes a scientific approach to designing and running meetings that actually accomplish their goals, while at the same time creating increased opportunities for member involvement.

Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History selected and introduced by William Safire. W.W. Norton and Co. 2004. This updated version of a previous book provides historical context and original texts for hundreds of famous and not-so-famous speeches from ancient Greece to the present. It's a great reference for those in positions of influencing others.

Four Hours in My Lai by Michael Bilton and Kevin Sim. Penguin Books, 1992. This detailed and harrowing account of the massacre at My Lai includes extensive research into the prelude and follow up to the event. This is a critically important study of the role that leadership plays when ordinary people do terrible things.

It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff. Warner Books, 2002. Captain Abrashoff's methods for transforming one of the worst ships in the Navy to one of the best are simple, but no less important because of that. Trust people and empower them to make decisions. Get to know the people who work for you. Be accessible. Take calculated risks. Create an underlying sense of purpose. Give credit where credit is due. Advocate for those who look to you for leadership.

The Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations on Management by Jerry B. Harvey. Lexington Books, 1988. Although published over 15 years ago, this book still has much to offer in the discussion of leadership and management. In addition to the title essay which discusses the problem of "managing agreement," other excellent chapters include "Captain Asoh and the Concept of Grace," and "Eichmann in the Organization."

The 9/11 Commission Report W.W. Norton and Co., 2004. Compelling, thorough and remarkably well written, this report should be read by every American. At the very least, all emergency service providers should read the chapter entitled "Heroism and Horror."

The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki. Doubleday, 2004. After reading this book, you will never think the same again about how groups make decisions. The book is well researched, fascinating, and ultimately readable.

Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions by Gary Klein. The MIT Press, 1998. This fascinating book about decision making uses examples from the emergency services, including specific fire service scenarios.

Job Feedback: Giving, Seeking and Using Feedback for Performance Improvement by Manuel London. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 1997. This book takes researched yet accessible approach to a topic that doesn't get nearly enough attention. The text is well organized and contains many good points for better feedback.

Winning 'Em Over: A New Model for Management in the Age of Persuasion by Jay A. Conger. Simon & Schuster, 1998. This clearly written book highlights the critical difference between persuasion and manipulation, and provides many excellent insights and tips for doing better persuasive presentations.

TeamWork: What Must Go Right, What Can Go Wrong by Carl E. Larson and Frank. M. J. LaFasto (Sage Publications, 1989) is an excellent resource on principle-based leadership. The book is brief, focused and practical in its observations and suggestions.

Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading by Ronald A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky (Harvard Business School Press, 2002) offers a clear guide to the challenges and rewards of what the authors refer to as adaptive leadership.

The Logic of Failure: Why things go wrong and what we can do to make them right by Dietrich Dorner (Metropolitan Books) is a fascinating book about why good intentions and plans sometimes yield bad results. The book is both highly readable and well researched, using computer modeling to illustrate its concepts.

A Practical Guide to Organization Design by Margaret R. Davis and David A. Weckler. Crisp Publications, 1996. This slim book does a good job explaining a complex subjectö business process reengineering. The format is clear and includes examples and workbook pages for each chapter.

Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas by James L. Adams. Addison-Wesley Publishers. This fun, fascinating book challenges and instructs on the subject of learning how to think more creatively and effectively. Filled with exercises that illustrate the topics, and heavily (and often humorously) illustrated, this book has much to offer any manager who wants to foster a more resourceful and innovative workforce.

Organizational Culture and Leadership by Edgar H. Schein. Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1992. This academic but quite readable book is one of the best resources for understanding how organizational culture develops and how it affects performance and the ability to change. If you have interest in this topic, and you take the time needed for this book, you will be amply rewarded.

The Challenger Launch Decision: Risky Technology, Culture, and Deviance at NASA by Diane Vaughn. The University of Chicago Press, 1996. This book is an exhaustively researched, yet still remarkably readable account of how good people can make bad decisions. The book provides a detailed chronology and analysis of the events that led up to the space shuttle tragedy in 1986, focusing on how subtle aspects of organizational culture influenced the decisions along the way.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. Carroll & Graf Publishers, New York: 1959, 1999. This is absolutely one of the best studies in leadership and team management you will ever read. This historical account recreates the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton, who sailed from England in 1914 for the purpose of launching an expedition across the interior of Antarctica. No one could have predicted the calamities that the team would encounter once underway, or the ultimate outcome of the voyage. If you are not familiar with this story, the book will keep you on the edge of your seat with its exciting, suspenseful narrative. Even if you know the story, pay attention to the actions of Shackleton as he leads his crew of 27 men through one disaster after another. Notice his attention to detail, and his total commitment to his men in every action and word. He is an inspiration to anyone who has ever led others under adverse conditions.

Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change by William Bridges. Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1991. Philosophical and practical at the same time, with exercises and checklists at the end of each chapter. Also by the same author: Transitions, an inquiry into personal change.

The Art of the Long View: Planning for the Future in an Uncertain World by Peter Schwartz. Doubleday, 1996. The basics of scenario-based planning.

The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization by Peter M. Senge. Doubleday, 1990. A fundamental text on creating positive organizational change.

101 Creative Problem Solving Techniques: The Handbook of New Ideas for Business by James M. Higgins. The New Management Publishing Company, 1994. This dense but user friendly book provides dozens of specific ideas for moving through the problem solving process. Exercises which enhance problem definition, brainstorming and implementation are included as well as case histories and extensive reference lists. This book is corporate focused in its examples, and does require some commitment to be useful, but it contains a wealth of great ideas all presented in one place. top

Conflict Resolution

Non-Adversarial Communication: Speaking and Listening from the Heart by Arlene Brownell with Thomas Bache-Wiig. Velvet Spring Press, 2007. This book provides a clear and widely applicable approach to difficult communication, including many practical exercises.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan & Al Switzer. McGraw-Hill, 2002. This clear, insightful book offers many good suggestions and strategies for successfully managing our most difficult conversations.

The Eight Essential Steps to Conflict Resolution by Dudley Weeks (Putnam, 1992) is a clearly written, practical guide to conflict resolution strategies at work, at home and in the community.

Workplace Wars and How to End Them: Turning Personal Conflict into Productive Teamwork by Kenneth Kaye. Amacom, 1994. This clearly written, focused book outlines a five step plan for improving workplace relationships. The approach is pragmatic and well illustrated with examples and graphics. The importance of creating an organizational Conflict Resolving System is a central principle of this author's message.

Consensus Through Conversation: How to Achieve High-Commitment Decisions by Larry Dressler. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2006. This small book is a clear, concise guide to the process of consensus decision making. The bibliography and resources are particularly useful.

Mediating Dangerously: The Frontiers of Conflict Resolution by Kenneth Cloke (Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2001). This book gets away from more formulaic models of mediation and demands that those who resolve conflict look at themselves as well as the external situation. A fresh and challenging approach to the topic.

From Conflict to Cooperation: How to Mediate a Dispute by Beverly Potter. Ronin Publishing, 1996. This is a clear, practical guidebook for mediating common interpersonal disputes both in the workplace and at home. The book offers lots of examples which illustrate useful techniques for conflict resolution. The tips relating to logistics of difficult meetings are particularly valuable.

Working Relationships: The Simple Truth About Getting Along With Friends and Foes at Work by Bob Wall. Davies-Black Publishing, 1999. If you can get past the Wal-Mart style happy-face illustrations in this book, it has some basic but valuable information about interpersonal relations at work.

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving In by Roger Fisher and William Ury. Penguin Books, 1991. THE essential reference on the principles of interest-based negotiation. Also by the same authors: Getting Past No and recently published Difficult Conversations.

The Mediator's Handbook by Jennifer E. Beer and Eileen Stief. New Society Publishers, 1997. A clear and practical guide to the mediation process, with lots of examples.

The Mediation Process: Practical Strategies for Resolving Conflict by Christopher W. Moore. Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1996. A thorough, textbook approach to the mediation process.

The Tao of Negotiation: How You Can Prevent, Resolve, and Transcend Conflict in Work and Everyday Life by Joel Edelman and Mary Beth Crain. HarperCollins Publishers, 1993. This book covers a wide range of conflict resolution issues and strategies in a readable format. top

Diversity Issues

I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches that Changed the World by Martin Luther King Jr. HarperSanFrancisco 1992. It has been 40 years since the death of Martin Luther King, yet his words are just as eloquent and pertinent today as they were then. This book includes all of Dr. King's major speeches and a number of lesser known presentations and essays, as well as the entire text of Letter From a Birmingham Jail.

From the Outside In: Seven Strategies for Success When You're Not a Member of the Dominant Group in the Workplace by Renee Blank and Sandra Slipp Ph.D. Amacom Publishers, 2000. How can you achieve success and acceptance at work when you're the "only one?" This book offers some practical advice for those who may be perceived as being different in the workplace.

Investigating Sexual Harassment in Law Enforcement and Nontraditional Fields for Women by Penny E. Harrington and Kimberly A. Lonsway. Prentice Hall Publishers, 2006. This clear and comprehensive book addresses the problem of sexual harassment investigations in the context of law enforcement and other fields of work where women are a distinct minority. One of the authors is a former police chief and director of the National Center for Women and Policing.

Sexual Harassment in America: A Documentary History by Laura W. Stein. Greenwood Press, 1999. This edited collection of original documents related to sexual harassment includes articles, court decisions, government documents, and more. A very useful and well organized reference.

My Soul Looks Back in Wonder: Voices of the Civil Rights Experience by Juan Williams. AARP Sterling Publishing, 2004. This inspiring book recounts dozens of stories of individuals' involvement with the civil rights movement in this country, both historically and currently. Contributors include the famous as well as many little known people who made their mark.

What to Do When You Don't Want to Call the Cops: A Non-Adversarial Approach to Sexual Harassment by Joan Taylor Kennedy. New York University Press, 1999. It's not often that a book on sexual harassment really says something new. This book, written by a self-described libertarian feminist, is provocative, insightful, controversial, and ultimately, a worthy voice in the ongoing discussion of sexual harassment.

When Generations Collide: Who they are. Why they clash. How to solve the generational puzzle at work. By Lynne C. Lancaster and David Stillman. HarperBusiness, 2002. The chapters on feedback and training were particularly informative.

Generations at Work: Managing the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in Your Workplace by Ron Zemke, Claire Raines and Bob Filipczak. Amacom, 2000. This book outlines differences among the four generations currently active in the workplace, and provides insight for improving inter-generational harmony.

Honoring Boundaries: Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace by Joyce Kaser, Human Resource Development Press, 1995. This book is outdated regarding recent legal decisions affecting harassment, but its pragmatic and clear approach to preventing workplace harassment is still useful to managers and leaders.

In the aftermath of last September 11th, little attention was given to the contributions of women emergency workers at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon. A new book, Women at Ground Zero by Susan Hagen and Mary Carouba (Alpha Publishers, 2002) corrects this omission by collecting the stories of a diverse group of women who served New York City on that day.

Firefighters A to Z by Chris Demarest (Scholastic Press) is a beautifully illustrated, informative book that depicts a fully inclusive fire service by gender and race. This book, most appropriate for children ages 3-6, also helps preschoolers learn their ABCâs as they see the firefightersâ day unfold.

Recruiting and Retaining Women: A Self-Assessment Guide for Law Enforcement. Published by the National Center for Women in Policing. This detailed guidebook provides clear and specific guidelines for the successful recruitment, hiring, and retention of women in law enforcement agencies. End of chapter checklists are particularly helpful. This book is currently in its first printing; for more information on how to obtain a copy, call 323-651-2532

Mastering Diversity: Managing for Success Under ADA and Other Anti-discrimination Laws by James Walsh. Merritt Publishing. This straight-talking and often provocative book is full of useful information and detailed case histories covering the entire spectrum of discrimination and harassment law. Included in the extensive appendices are specific guidelines for managing diversity and sample forms for reporting incidents related to harassment or discrimination.

Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice by Taylor Cox Jr. Berret-Kohler Publishers, 1994. Somewhat academic in its approach, but well written and with many eye-opening observations.

Real Heat: Gender and Race in the Urban Fire Service by Carol Chetkovich. Rutgers University Press, 1997. An in-depth study of the cultural and working conditions on one urban fire department. Insightful and honest in its approach.

You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation by Deborah Tannen. Ballantine Books, 1990. An essential reference on the topic of gender differences in communication. Also by the same author: That's Not What I Meant and Talking From 9 to 5.

Sexual Harassment on the Job by William Petrocelli and Barbara Kate Repa. Nolo Press. Check with the publisher (www.nolo.com) for the latest update. Excellent, practical reference on sexual harassment law and its application.

Many Faces, One Purpose and Many Women Strong. These two books, just published by the United States Fire Administration, provide the answers to most questions about issues of gender integration in the fire service. Many Faces, One Purpose is a guidebook for fire managers who want to succeed in hiring and retaining good women as firefighters. Many Women Strong is a book specifically focused on the questions and issues of women considering fire service careers. Both books include extensive, clear information on subjects ranging from hiring and promotion to sexual harassment to child care to facilities to grooming standards. Much of the information is not gender specific, and will be of interest to leaders who want to maintain the highest quality workforce overall. Both books are available free from the USFA and can be ordered on-line at www.usfa.fema.gov (click on publications).

All That We Can Be: Black Leadership and Racial Integration the Army Way by Charles C. Moskos and John Sibley Butler. BasicBooks 1996. The Army is the most integrated large organization in America, and it has a vastly higher percentage of African-Americans in positions of leadership compared to any major corporation. This book examines how the Army went from being strictly segregated to being widely and successfully integrated, in the space of 50 years. This well-researched and highly readable account of significant organizational change has something to say to everyone interested in the challenges posed by racial diversity. top

Internet Resources

www.legalmomentum.org is a website focused on legal issues that affect women at work. This site has a dedicated area for issues affecting women firefighters

www.bullybusters.org provides information and articles related to workplace bullying in the United States and Canada. This site is sponsored by the Workplace Bullying and Trauma Institute, based in Bellingham, WA.

FireRescue1 is an online magazine with many resources for fire professionals including news, columns, and product reviews. Starting in 2008, Linda Willing has written a regular column on team development and company officer issues called Leading the Team.

www.businessknowhow.com is a site with a wealth of information in the areas of human resources, leadership, and marketing. The site includes articles and excerpts from recently published books. If you can see beyond the proliferation of advertisements, this site has much to offer.

Business and Legal Reports www.blr.com is a website that is mostly about selling products to assist in human resources management. But scroll down to the bottom of the home page and find the box for free subscriptions to several e-zines that discuss personnel management, safety and other topics. The HR Daily Advisor is particularly valuable.

www.law.cornell.edu is the website for the Cornell University Law School. The site is not particularly easy to navigate, but does contain some very useful information that may be difficult to find elsewhere.

www.employmentlawalliance.com provides free access to articles, news clips, survey results and other information related to workplace diversity and other legal issues. Click on "Newsroom" from the home page.

www.laborproject.org is the address for the Labor Project for Working Families, a national nonprofit advocacy and policy organization which provides resources and education for unions and union members on issues related to work and family. The site includes resources and links on child care, elder care, family leave, and developing contract language to improve work/family relationships.

www.equalrights.org is the website for Equal Rights Advocates, an organization that supports equal rights and economic opportunities for women and girls. This site contains a lot of interesting information and useful links.

www.ethics.org is the website for the nonprofit Ethics Resource Center. The site offers a free newsletter, articles, links, reports on research and other resources related to ethics in the workplace and the community.

www.hrnext.com offers a wealth of human resources tools and references, including sample policies, articles, and tips. Unfortunately, most of the material at the site is available to members only, for a substantial fee. Still, there are useful items free for the taking.

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/ is the web address for the column archives of Joanna Grossman, law professor at Hofstra University and specialist on issues related to workplace harassment and discrimination. Ms. Grossman writes about specific current case law and its application to the workplace in a clear and concise manner, and many of the articles have particular relevance to the emergency services.

www.ewowfacts.com is a website sponsored by the Business Women's Network that includes hundreds of pages of information, links and examples related to general diversity topics, and topics related to women in particular.

www.shrm.org/diversity is a section of the website for the Society for Human Resource Management that is devoted to issues of workplace diversity. Although some of the material on the site is available to society members only, there is still a vast amount of information available to anyone, including articles, links, and presentation materials.

www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/home2.html In the aftermath of September 11th, the New York City Fire Department commissioned an independent investigation that would lead to recommendations on improving safety and operations at major incidents. The McKinsey report, which is published on the FDNY website, addresses issues of communication, planning, and family support, among other topics.

www.woodrickinstitute.org is the website for the Woodrick Institute for the Study of Racism and Diversity, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This organization sponsors a number of different types of training and also publishes an online fee-for-subscription newsletter called Do Diversity Right.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (www.fmcs.gov) is a government agency that assists organizations nationwide with problems requiring mediation and related services. The FMCS has offices across the country and its services are low cost or in some cases, free. They also have some publications available.

www.cfdonline.org/diversity.htm The Charlottesville, VA Fire Department has put together an impressive list of links to diversity-related sites, many of them fire department focused.

www.nlj.com/special/courts.shtml Presented by the National Law Journal, this resource is a great one-stop resource for those seeking direct access to legal cases at all levels (state, federal and circuit). Constructed like an index, this site will give you access to virtually any legal decision that has been made in the United States.

The website for the American Institute for Managing Diversity www.aimd.org offers good general information about workplace diversity, as well as an excellent bibliography and links to other resources.

www.wls-law.com/newsletters is the site of a monthly newsletter published by a private law firm specializing in labor and employment law. The newsletters provide clear, brief summaries of recent cases in this area.

England has been a leader in addressing and preventing generalized workplace harassment, or bullying, that may not be related to protected class status. The website www.workplacebullying.co.uk/index.html is an excellent resource on this subject.

www.dol.gov is the home page for the Department of Labor website. Not the most user-friendly site, this site is nonetheless full of important information. Links take you directly to the pertinent laws. Suggestion: Bookmark the pages you use, and skip the homepage entry.

http://library.uncg.edu/depts/docs/us/harass.html Looking for information about sexual harassment? The University of North Carolina, Greensboro has put together this extensive reference list and links page. The web page says it "contains links to information on sexual harassment from a great variety of sources" and the site more than fulfills this claim. Links will take you to complete government publications and other source material on the subject that you can print and use at your convenience.

www.sexharassment.net is a highly informative site on the subject of sexual harassment in the workplace. The format is logical, if dense, and the site includes an excellent glossary of legal terms associated with discrimination and harassment.

www.legalengine.com is a huge, informative site with much more than just information about the law. This site has terrific links to current news stories, and also offers historical census data, links to state and local governments, and much, much more.

www.mediate.com is a website full of valuable information about mediation and alternative dispute resolution. The site includes dozens of articles, discussions groups, and information about all aspects of mediation.

www.census.gov: For the latest national census results, and much more. This site has detailed information from the census as well as related articles and press releases, all clearly indexed and cataloged.

www.law.com: This well-designed website gives daily updates on current legal issues as well as re-printing topical law journal articles. The site is user-friendly and doesnât try to include too much. Additional articles and services, including interactive on-line seminars, are available for a fee, but most of the material is free for the taking.

www.findlaw.com This excellent website offers free access to many legal resources, including transcripts of court decisions at several levels. The home page has recently been simplified, somewhat to its detriment in terms of scope of information offered, but if you click on "For Legal Professionals" you will find links to just about anything you might need.

www.adr.org: This is the website for the American Arbitration Association (AAA) , a 75 year old national nonprofit organization specializing in alternative dispute resolution (arbitration, mediation, and other forms of out-of-court settlements.) This site offers selected articles from AAA publications (e.g. "Selecting the Right Mediator"), procedural models and guidelines (check out their model for resolving sexual harassment claims), and information about the organization's resources and services. This is an organization and site that is mostly written by lawyers, but don't be put off by the legalese. There's a lot of good information here.

www.eeoc.gov: This is the website for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and really should be bookmarked on every fire manager's Internet list. This site features recent press releases, enforcement guidelines for discrimination and harassment law, information about mediation and EEOC programs, and very practical and specific information in a Q&A format about employer liability for discrimination and harassment.

www.iafc.org: The home page for the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

www.iaff.org: The home page for the International Association of Firefighters, the largest labor union of firefighters in the United States.

www.nahf.org: The home page for the National Association of Hispanic Firefighters. top

Video

Taking the Heat available through PBS. This one hour documentary tells the story of the first women firefighters on the New York City Fire Department.

Crash Lion's Gate Films, 2004. This commercial film deals with the consequences of anger, fear, and racism during a 36 hour period in post 9/11 Los Angeles. The ensemble cast features major stars and relative unknowns, but the draw of the film is its unflinching portrayal of real people dealing with real issues, for better and for worse. This is a film that deserves to be seen and talked about.

Sex, Power, and the Workplace produced by public television station KCET (Los Angeles). Sixty minutes in length, includes several case histories, including one fire service example. Call 1-800-343-4727 for ordering information. top

Practical Support for the Changing World at Work	Linda F. Willing P.O. Box 148 Grand Lake, CO 80447 970-627-3732
Home \| About Us \| Services \| Clients \| Resources \| Newsletter\| Archives \| Contact
Resources New additions will be made to this list monthly. If you would like to suggest resources that should be added to this list, please contact us. This Month's Pick: A National Report Card on Women in Firefighting by Denise M. Hulett, Marc Benedick Jr, Sheila Y. Thomas and Francine Moccio. April 2008. This is one of the most comprehensive recent studies of the status of women in firefighting, detailing the specific obstacles women face and what needs to happen to increase the numbers of women in the profession. Go to www.i-women.org to download the document. Resource Archive Leadership and Change Management Conflict Resolution Diversity Issues Internet Resources Video Resources Leadership and Change Management The Leadership Moment: Nine True Stories of Triumph and Disaster and their Lessons for Us All by Michael Useem. Three Rivers Press, 1998. This book tells nine very different stories of leadership, from Civil War battles to the fight against river blindness in Africa. Specific leadership lessons are drawn from each case study. The chapter profiling Gene Krantz, mission control leader for Apollo 13, was a new and compelling take on a familiar story. Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More than IQ by Daniel Goleman. Bantam Books, 1995, new edition 2005. This book, written more than 10 years ago, has become a classic work in determining the factors that lead to success beyond standard measurements. There are many spin-offs to this book, but the original is still worth reading. The Memory Jogger: A Pocket Guide of Tools for Continuous Improvement and Effective Planning by Michael Brassard and Diane Ritter. GOAL/QPC 1994. This small spiral bound book includes dozens of examples of planning and management tools, each with a clear explanation and tips for success. No theory here, just practical application. An incredible amount of useful information in a very small space. Tough Training Topics: A Presenter's Survival Guide by Steve Albrecht. Pfeiffer/John Wiley Publishers, 2006. This book contains a wealth of practical information for presenters in any format, but is especially focused on the challenges associated with the tough training topics such as harassment prevention, conflict resolution, workplace violence prevention, and performance evaluation, among others. The first part of the book clearly outlines key points for good presentations and would be useful for all presenters, regardless of their topic or experience. Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Decision-Making by Sam Kaner et. al. New Society Publishers, 1996. This is a very accessible book that is full of practical tips for better management of decision making processes. The book includes charts, diagrams, check lists, case studies, and specific activities. The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything by Stephen M. R. Covey. Free Press, 2006. "Leadership is getting results in a way that inspires trust." This statement summarizes the focus of this book which looks at the various levels of trust and credibility as critical aspects of leadership. If you have read any of the author's father's work (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People etc.), much about this book will seem familiar. But it is always worth hearing again. *The Paradox of Choice* by Barry Schwartz. Harper Collins Publishers, 2004. Does having more options in our lives make us happier? Can having too many choices actually make people unhappier or less effective in decision making? What strategies do people use when their choices seem to expand nearly infinitely? These questions are addressed with wit and insight in this accessible and well researched book. *Judgment Days: Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr. And the Laws that Changed America* by Nick Kotz. Houghton-Mifflin 2005. This fascinating book describes the often complex and contradictory circumstances that led to the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the 1968 Civil Rights Act, which guaranteed equal housing protections. This is impressive and important research presented in a highly readable format. *Leading at the Edge: Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition* by Dennis N.T. Perkins with Margaret P. Holtman, Paul R. Kessler and Catherine McCarthy. Amacom Press, 2000. This book uses the amazing survival story of Ernest Shackleton’s failed 1914 Antarctic expedition as the basis for forming ten essential lessons about leadership. The book includes many details from the original accounts of the expedition, as well as making some interesting comparisons with other similar expeditions that had much less favorable outcomes. The Ethics Edge edited by Evan M. Berman, Jonathan P. West & Stephen J. Bonczek. ICMA Practical Management Series, 1998. This book consists of twenty different articles and essays about workplace ethical challenges. There is a wide variety of approaches and styles, and the writing is both academically sound and accessible. *Lateral Thinking Puzzles* by Paul Sloan, Sterling Publishers, 1991. This is one of a series of small books filled with brain teaser puzzles that require creative "lateral" rather than linear thinking. These can be fun to use as ice breakers or group problem solving challenges. *The Best and the Brightest* by David Halberstam. Fawcett Publications, 1972. This is a classic and incredibly detailed study of the circumstances and leadership decisions that led the U.S. into involvement in the Vietnam War. Fascinating, readable, and all too timely. *102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers* by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn. Times Books, 2005. This harrowing and riveting narrative describes the choices and many acts of heroism among those who were trapped in the World Trade Center as well as those who came to rescue them. There are countless lessons about leadership at its most essential level. You won't be able to put it down. *Grassroots and Nonprofit Leadership: A Guide for Organizations in Changing Times* by Berit Lakey, George Lakey, Rod Napier and Janice Robinson. New Society Publishers, 1995. Although written with nonprofit organizations in mind, this book has much to offer organizations that are trying to clarify their missions, manage staff and volunteers, and deal with change. Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future by Margaret J. Wheatley. Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2002. Meg Wheatley is one of this country's leading voices on management theory, but this is not your typical management book. Instead, Dr. Wheatley combines short essays, poetry, queries and stories to promote conversations about what kind of future we want to create. *Making Meetings Work: Achieving High Quality Group Decisions* by John E. Tropman, Sage Publications, 1996. This book goes well beyond common wisdom and feel-good rhetoric and takes a scientific approach to designing and running meetings that actually accomplish their goals, while at the same time creating increased opportunities for member involvement. *Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History* selected and introduced by William Safire. W.W. Norton and Co. 2004. This updated version of a previous book provides historical context and original texts for hundreds of famous and not-so-famous speeches from ancient Greece to the present. It's a great reference for those in positions of influencing others. *Four Hours in My Lai* by Michael Bilton and Kevin Sim. Penguin Books, 1992. This detailed and harrowing account of the massacre at My Lai includes extensive research into the prelude and follow up to the event. This is a critically important study of the role that leadership plays when ordinary people do terrible things. *It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy* by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff. Warner Books, 2002. Captain Abrashoff's methods for transforming one of the worst ships in the Navy to one of the best are simple, but no less important because of that. Trust people and empower them to make decisions. Get to know the people who work for you. Be accessible. Take calculated risks. Create an underlying sense of purpose. Give credit where credit is due. Advocate for those who look to you for leadership. *The Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations on Management* by Jerry B. Harvey. Lexington Books, 1988. Although published over 15 years ago, this book still has much to offer in the discussion of leadership and management. In addition to the title essay which discusses the problem of "managing agreement," other excellent chapters include "Captain Asoh and the Concept of Grace," and "Eichmann in the Organization." *The 9/11 Commission Report* W.W. Norton and Co., 2004. Compelling, thorough and remarkably well written, this report should be read by every American. At the very least, all emergency service providers should read the chapter entitled "Heroism and Horror." *The Wisdom of Crowds* by James Surowiecki. Doubleday, 2004. After reading this book, you will never think the same again about how groups make decisions. The book is well researched, fascinating, and ultimately readable. *Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions* by Gary Klein. The MIT Press, 1998. This fascinating book about decision making uses examples from the emergency services, including specific fire service scenarios. *Job Feedback: Giving, Seeking and Using Feedback for Performance Improvement* by Manuel London. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 1997. This book takes researched yet accessible approach to a topic that doesn't get nearly enough attention. The text is well organized and contains many good points for better feedback. Winning 'Em Over: A New Model for Management in the Age of Persuasion by Jay A. Conger. Simon & Schuster, 1998. This clearly written book highlights the critical difference between persuasion and manipulation, and provides many excellent insights and tips for doing better persuasive presentations. TeamWork: What Must Go Right, What Can Go Wrong by Carl E. Larson and Frank. M. J. LaFasto (Sage Publications, 1989) is an excellent resource on principle-based leadership. The book is brief, focused and practical in its observations and suggestions. Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading by Ronald A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky (Harvard Business School Press, 2002) offers a clear guide to the challenges and rewards of what the authors refer to as adaptive leadership. *The Logic of Failure: Why things go wrong and what we can do to make them right* by Dietrich Dorner (Metropolitan Books) is a fascinating book about why good intentions and plans sometimes yield bad results. The book is both highly readable and well researched, using computer modeling to illustrate its concepts. A Practical Guide to Organization Design by Margaret R. Davis and David A. Weckler. Crisp Publications, 1996. This slim book does a good job explaining a complex subjectö business process reengineering. The format is clear and includes examples and workbook pages for each chapter. *Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas* by James L. Adams. Addison-Wesley Publishers. This fun, fascinating book challenges and instructs on the subject of learning how to think more creatively and effectively. Filled with exercises that illustrate the topics, and heavily (and often humorously) illustrated, this book has much to offer any manager who wants to foster a more resourceful and innovative workforce. *Organizational Culture and Leadership* by Edgar H. Schein. Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1992. This academic but quite readable book is one of the best resources for understanding how organizational culture develops and how it affects performance and the ability to change. If you have interest in this topic, and you take the time needed for this book, you will be amply rewarded. *The Challenger Launch Decision: Risky Technology, Culture, and Deviance at NASA* by Diane Vaughn. The University of Chicago Press, 1996. This book is an exhaustively researched, yet still remarkably readable account of how good people can make bad decisions. The book provides a detailed chronology and analysis of the events that led up to the space shuttle tragedy in 1986, focusing on how subtle aspects of organizational culture influenced the decisions along the way. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. Carroll & Graf Publishers, New York: 1959, 1999. This is absolutely one of the best studies in leadership and team management you will ever read. This historical account recreates the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton, who sailed from England in 1914 for the purpose of launching an expedition across the interior of Antarctica. No one could have predicted the calamities that the team would encounter once underway, or the ultimate outcome of the voyage. If you are not familiar with this story, the book will keep you on the edge of your seat with its exciting, suspenseful narrative. Even if you know the story, pay attention to the actions of Shackleton as he leads his crew of 27 men through one disaster after another. Notice his attention to detail, and his total commitment to his men in every action and word. He is an inspiration to anyone who has ever led others under adverse conditions. Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change by William Bridges. Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1991. Philosophical and practical at the same time, with exercises and checklists at the end of each chapter. Also by the same author: Transitions, an inquiry into personal change. The Art of the Long View: Planning for the Future in an Uncertain World by Peter Schwartz. Doubleday, 1996. The basics of scenario-based planning. The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization by Peter M. Senge. Doubleday, 1990. A fundamental text on creating positive organizational change. 101 Creative Problem Solving Techniques: The Handbook of New Ideas for Business by James M. Higgins. The New Management Publishing Company, 1994. This dense but user friendly book provides dozens of specific ideas for moving through the problem solving process. Exercises which enhance problem definition, brainstorming and implementation are included as well as case histories and extensive reference lists. This book is corporate focused in its examples, and does require some commitment to be useful, but it contains a wealth of great ideas all presented in one place. top Conflict Resolution Non-Adversarial Communication: Speaking and Listening from the Heart by Arlene Brownell with Thomas Bache-Wiig. Velvet Spring Press, 2007. This book provides a clear and widely applicable approach to difficult communication, including many practical exercises. *Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High* by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan & Al Switzer. McGraw-Hill, 2002. This clear, insightful book offers many good suggestions and strategies for successfully managing our most difficult conversations. *The Eight Essential Steps to Conflict Resolution* by Dudley Weeks (Putnam, 1992) is a clearly written, practical guide to conflict resolution strategies at work, at home and in the community. Workplace Wars and How to End Them: Turning Personal Conflict into Productive Teamwork by Kenneth Kaye. Amacom, 1994. This clearly written, focused book outlines a five step plan for improving workplace relationships. The approach is pragmatic and well illustrated with examples and graphics. The importance of creating an organizational Conflict Resolving System is a central principle of this author's message. Consensus Through Conversation: How to Achieve High-Commitment Decisions by Larry Dressler. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2006. This small book is a clear, concise guide to the process of consensus decision making. The bibliography and resources are particularly useful. *Mediating Dangerously: The Frontiers of Conflict Resolution* by Kenneth Cloke (Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2001). This book gets away from more formulaic models of mediation and demands that those who resolve conflict look at themselves as well as the external situation. A fresh and challenging approach to the topic. From Conflict to Cooperation: How to Mediate a Dispute by Beverly Potter. Ronin Publishing, 1996. This is a clear, practical guidebook for mediating common interpersonal disputes both in the workplace and at home. The book offers lots of examples which illustrate useful techniques for conflict resolution. The tips relating to logistics of difficult meetings are particularly valuable. *Working Relationships: The Simple Truth About Getting Along With Friends and Foes at Work* by Bob Wall. Davies-Black Publishing, 1999. If you can get past the Wal-Mart style happy-face illustrations in this book, it has some basic but valuable information about interpersonal relations at work. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving In by Roger Fisher and William Ury. Penguin Books, 1991. THE essential reference on the principles of interest-based negotiation. Also by the same authors: Getting Past No and recently published Difficult Conversations. The Mediator's Handbook by Jennifer E. Beer and Eileen Stief. New Society Publishers, 1997. A clear and practical guide to the mediation process, with lots of examples. The Mediation Process: Practical Strategies for Resolving Conflict by Christopher W. Moore. Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1996. A thorough, textbook approach to the mediation process. The Tao of Negotiation: How You Can Prevent, Resolve, and Transcend Conflict in Work and Everyday Life by Joel Edelman and Mary Beth Crain. HarperCollins Publishers, 1993. This book covers a wide range of conflict resolution issues and strategies in a readable format. top Diversity Issues *Judgment Days: Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr. And the Laws that Changed America* by Nick Kotz. Houghton-Mifflin 2005. This fascinating book describes the often complex and contradictory circumstances that led to the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the 1968 Civil Rights Act, which guaranteed equal housing protections. This is impressive and important research presented in a highly readable format I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches that Changed the World by Martin Luther King Jr. HarperSanFrancisco 1992. It has been 40 years since the death of Martin Luther King, yet his words are just as eloquent and pertinent today as they were then. This book includes all of Dr. King's major speeches and a number of lesser known presentations and essays, as well as the entire text of Letter From a Birmingham Jail. From the Outside In: Seven Strategies for Success When You're Not a Member of the Dominant Group in the Workplace by Renee Blank and Sandra Slipp Ph.D. Amacom Publishers, 2000. How can you achieve success and acceptance at work when you're the "only one?" This book offers some practical advice for those who may be perceived as being different in the workplace. *Investigating Sexual Harassment in Law Enforcement and Nontraditional Fields for Women* by Penny E. Harrington and Kimberly A. Lonsway. Prentice Hall Publishers, 2006. This clear and comprehensive book addresses the problem of sexual harassment investigations in the context of law enforcement and other fields of work where women are a distinct minority. One of the authors is a former police chief and director of the National Center for Women and Policing. *Sexual Harassment in America: A Documentary History* by Laura W. Stein. Greenwood Press, 1999. This edited collection of original documents related to sexual harassment includes articles, court decisions, government documents, and more. A very useful and well organized reference. *My Soul Looks Back in Wonder: Voices of the Civil Rights Experience* by Juan Williams. AARP Sterling Publishing, 2004. This inspiring book recounts dozens of stories of individuals' involvement with the civil rights movement in this country, both historically and currently. Contributors include the famous as well as many little known people who made their mark. *What to Do When You Don't Want to Call the Cops: A Non-Adversarial Approach to Sexual Harassment* by Joan Taylor Kennedy. New York University Press, 1999. It's not often that a book on sexual harassment really says something new. This book, written by a self-described libertarian feminist, is provocative, insightful, controversial, and ultimately, a worthy voice in the ongoing discussion of sexual harassment. When Generations Collide: Who they are. Why they clash. How to solve the generational puzzle at work. By Lynne C. Lancaster and David Stillman. HarperBusiness, 2002. The chapters on feedback and training were particularly informative. *Generations at Work: Managing the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in Your Workplace* by Ron Zemke, Claire Raines and Bob Filipczak. Amacom, 2000. This book outlines differences among the four generations currently active in the workplace, and provides insight for improving inter-generational harmony. *Honoring Boundaries: Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace* by Joyce Kaser, Human Resource Development Press, 1995. This book is outdated regarding recent legal decisions affecting harassment, but its pragmatic and clear approach to preventing workplace harassment is still useful to managers and leaders. In the aftermath of last September 11th, little attention was given to the contributions of women emergency workers at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon. A new book, Women at Ground Zero by Susan Hagen and Mary Carouba (Alpha Publishers, 2002) corrects this omission by collecting the stories of a diverse group of women who served New York City on that day. *Firefighters A to Z* by Chris Demarest (Scholastic Press) is a beautifully illustrated, informative book that depicts a fully inclusive fire service by gender and race. This book, most appropriate for children ages 3-6, also helps preschoolers learn their ABCâs as they see the firefightersâ day unfold. *Recruiting and Retaining Women: A Self-Assessment Guide for Law Enforcement.* Published by the National Center for Women in Policing. This detailed guidebook provides clear and specific guidelines for the successful recruitment, hiring, and retention of women in law enforcement agencies. End of chapter checklists are particularly helpful. This book is currently in its first printing; for more information on how to obtain a copy, call 323-651-2532 Mastering Diversity: Managing for Success Under ADA and Other Anti-discrimination Laws by James Walsh. Merritt Publishing. This straight-talking and often provocative book is full of useful information and detailed case histories covering the entire spectrum of discrimination and harassment law. Included in the extensive appendices are specific guidelines for managing diversity and sample forms for reporting incidents related to harassment or discrimination. Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice by Taylor Cox Jr. Berret-Kohler Publishers, 1994. Somewhat academic in its approach, but well written and with many eye-opening observations. Real Heat: Gender and Race in the Urban Fire Service by Carol Chetkovich. Rutgers University Press, 1997. An in-depth study of the cultural and working conditions on one urban fire department. Insightful and honest in its approach. You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation by Deborah Tannen. Ballantine Books, 1990. An essential reference on the topic of gender differences in communication. Also by the same author: That's Not What I Meant and Talking From 9 to 5. Sexual Harassment on the Job by William Petrocelli and Barbara Kate Repa. Nolo Press. Check with the publisher (www.nolo.com) for the latest update. Excellent, practical reference on sexual harassment law and its application. Many Faces, One Purpose and Many Women Strong. These two books, just published by the United States Fire Administration, provide the answers to most questions about issues of gender integration in the fire service. Many Faces, One Purpose is a guidebook for fire managers who want to succeed in hiring and retaining good women as firefighters. Many Women Strong is a book specifically focused on the questions and issues of women considering fire service careers. Both books include extensive, clear information on subjects ranging from hiring and promotion to sexual harassment to child care to facilities to grooming standards. Much of the information is not gender specific, and will be of interest to leaders who want to maintain the highest quality workforce overall. Both books are available free from the USFA and can be ordered on-line at www.usfa.fema.gov (click on publications). All That We Can Be: Black Leadership and Racial Integration the Army Way by Charles C. Moskos and John Sibley Butler. BasicBooks 1996. The Army is the most integrated large organization in America, and it has a vastly higher percentage of African-Americans in positions of leadership compared to any major corporation. This book examines how the Army went from being strictly segregated to being widely and successfully integrated, in the space of 50 years. This well-researched and highly readable account of significant organizational change has something to say to everyone interested in the challenges posed by racial diversity. top Internet Resources www.legalmomentum.org is a website focused on legal issues that affect women at work. This site has a dedicated area for issues affecting women firefighters www.bullybusters.org provides information and articles related to workplace bullying in the United States and Canada. This site is sponsored by the Workplace Bullying and Trauma Institute, based in Bellingham, WA. FireRescue1 is an online magazine with many resources for fire professionals including news, columns, and product reviews. Starting in 2008, Linda Willing has written a regular column on team development and company officer issues called Leading the Team. www.businessknowhow.com is a site with a wealth of information in the areas of human resources, leadership, and marketing. The site includes articles and excerpts from recently published books. If you can see beyond the proliferation of advertisements, this site has much to offer. Business and Legal Reports www.blr.com is a website that is mostly about selling products to assist in human resources management. But scroll down to the bottom of the home page and find the box for free subscriptions to several e-zines that discuss personnel management, safety and other topics. The HR Daily Advisor is particularly valuable. www.law.cornell.edu is the website for the Cornell University Law School. The site is not particularly easy to navigate, but does contain some very useful information that may be difficult to find elsewhere. www.employmentlawalliance.com provides free access to articles, news clips, survey results and other information related to workplace diversity and other legal issues. Click on "Newsroom" from the home page. www.laborproject.org is the address for the Labor Project for Working Families, a national nonprofit advocacy and policy organization which provides resources and education for unions and union members on issues related to work and family. The site includes resources and links on child care, elder care, family leave, and developing contract language to improve work/family relationships. www.equalrights.org is the website for Equal Rights Advocates, an organization that supports equal rights and economic opportunities for women and girls. This site contains a lot of interesting information and useful links. www.ethics.org is the website for the nonprofit Ethics Resource Center. The site offers a free newsletter, articles, links, reports on research and other resources related to ethics in the workplace and the community. www.hrnext.com offers a wealth of human resources tools and references, including sample policies, articles, and tips. Unfortunately, most of the material at the site is available to members only, for a substantial fee. Still, there are useful items free for the taking. http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/ is the web address for the column archives of Joanna Grossman, law professor at Hofstra University and specialist on issues related to workplace harassment and discrimination. Ms. Grossman writes about specific current case law and its application to the workplace in a clear and concise manner, and many of the articles have particular relevance to the emergency services. www.ewowfacts.com is a website sponsored by the Business Women's Network that includes hundreds of pages of information, links and examples related to general diversity topics, and topics related to women in particular. www.shrm.org/diversity is a section of the website for the Society for Human Resource Management that is devoted to issues of workplace diversity. Although some of the material on the site is available to society members only, there is still a vast amount of information available to anyone, including articles, links, and presentation materials. www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/home2.html In the aftermath of September 11th, the New York City Fire Department commissioned an independent investigation that would lead to recommendations on improving safety and operations at major incidents. The McKinsey report, which is published on the FDNY website, addresses issues of communication, planning, and family support, among other topics. www.woodrickinstitute.org is the website for the Woodrick Institute for the Study of Racism and Diversity, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This organization sponsors a number of different types of training and also publishes an online fee-for-subscription newsletter called Do Diversity Right. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (www.fmcs.gov) is a government agency that assists organizations nationwide with problems requiring mediation and related services. The FMCS has offices across the country and its services are low cost or in some cases, free. They also have some publications available. www.cfdonline.org/diversity.htm The Charlottesville, VA Fire Department has put together an impressive list of links to diversity-related sites, many of them fire department focused. www.nlj.com/special/courts.shtml Presented by the National Law Journal, this resource is a great one-stop resource for those seeking direct access to legal cases at all levels (state, federal and circuit). Constructed like an index, this site will give you access to virtually any legal decision that has been made in the United States. The website for the American Institute for Managing Diversity www.aimd.org offers good general information about workplace diversity, as well as an excellent bibliography and links to other resources. www.wls-law.com/newsletters is the site of a monthly newsletter published by a private law firm specializing in labor and employment law. The newsletters provide clear, brief summaries of recent cases in this area. England has been a leader in addressing and preventing generalized workplace harassment, or bullying, that may not be related to protected class status. The website www.workplacebullying.co.uk/index.html is an excellent resource on this subject. www.dol.gov is the home page for the Department of Labor website. Not the most user-friendly site, this site is nonetheless full of important information. Links take you directly to the pertinent laws. Suggestion: Bookmark the pages you use, and skip the homepage entry. http://library.uncg.edu/depts/docs/us/harass.html Looking for information about sexual harassment? The University of North Carolina, Greensboro has put together this extensive reference list and links page. The web page says it "contains links to information on sexual harassment from a great variety of sources" and the site more than fulfills this claim. Links will take you to complete government publications and other source material on the subject that you can print and use at your convenience. www.sexharassment.net is a highly informative site on the subject of sexual harassment in the workplace. The format is logical, if dense, and the site includes an excellent glossary of legal terms associated with discrimination and harassment. www.legalengine.com is a huge, informative site with much more than just information about the law. This site has terrific links to current news stories, and also offers historical census data, links to state and local governments, and much, much more. www.mediate.com is a website full of valuable information about mediation and alternative dispute resolution. The site includes dozens of articles, discussions groups, and information about all aspects of mediation. www.census.gov: For the latest national census results, and much more. This site has detailed information from the census as well as related articles and press releases, all clearly indexed and cataloged. www.law.com: This well-designed website gives daily updates on current legal issues as well as re-printing topical law journal articles. The site is user-friendly and doesnât try to include too much. Additional articles and services, including interactive on-line seminars, are available for a fee, but most of the material is free for the taking. www.findlaw.com This excellent website offers free access to many legal resources, including transcripts of court decisions at several levels. The home page has recently been simplified, somewhat to its detriment in terms of scope of information offered, but if you click on "For Legal Professionals" you will find links to just about anything you might need. www.adr.org: This is the website for the American Arbitration Association (AAA) , a 75 year old national nonprofit organization specializing in alternative dispute resolution (arbitration, mediation, and other forms of out-of-court settlements.) This site offers selected articles from AAA publications (e.g. "Selecting the Right Mediator"), procedural models and guidelines (check out their model for resolving sexual harassment claims), and information about the organization's resources and services. This is an organization and site that is mostly written by lawyers, but don't be put off by the legalese. There's a lot of good information here. www.eeoc.gov: This is the website for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and really should be bookmarked on every fire manager's Internet list. This site features recent press releases, enforcement guidelines for discrimination and harassment law, information about mediation and EEOC programs, and very practical and specific information in a Q&A format about employer liability for discrimination and harassment. www.iafc.org: The home page for the International Association of Fire Chiefs. www.iaff.org: The home page for the International Association of Firefighters, the largest labor union of firefighters in the United States. www.nahf.org: The home page for the National Association of Hispanic Firefighters. top Video *Taking the Heat* available through PBS. This one hour documentary tells the story of the first women firefighters on the New York City Fire Department. *Crash* Lion's Gate Films, 2004. This commercial film deals with the consequences of anger, fear, and racism during a 36 hour period in post 9/11 Los Angeles. The ensemble cast features major stars and relative unknowns, but the draw of the film is its unflinching portrayal of real people dealing with real issues, for better and for worse. This is a film that deserves to be seen and talked about. Sex, Power, and the Workplace produced by public television station KCET (Los Angeles). Sixty minutes in length, includes several case histories, including one fire service example. Call 1-800-343-4727 for ordering information. top
Home \| About Us \| Services \| Clients \| Resources \| Newsletter\| Archives \| Contact