I have done two previous posts (click here and here) on the sex harassment scandal in the Ohio Attorney General’s office.  The Columbus Dispatch provides an update on this situation that’s nothing short of amazing.  Keep in mind that what we’re talking about here is the office environment of the top lawyer in the state of Ohio.  It’s one of the best lessons one could find anywhere on what not to do and what most of us thought wasn’t done these days–except perhaps in the offices of strip clubs, porn producers, and idiots completely possessed by The Man Gene.

According to an applicant for the position of personal assistant to the Attorney General, he was interviewed for two hours and was repeatedly asked if he could tolerate an atmosphere of frequent vulgarity.  The applicant, who didn’t get the job, had no doubt about the relevance of the inquiries made of him, since during the interview, he heard staff members in adjacent work areas shouting obscenities at each other.

Interviews with current and former employees, as well as the contents of hundreds of email messages finally released last week, reveal an almost-anything-goes work culture.  Extensive use of profanity, with the F-word being a favorite.  Boozing after work between older, married males and younger, unmarried females.  Partying at the condo owned by the Attorney General and a couple of male employees and friends of the Attorney General where there was always “lots of drinking.”  A supervisor coming to work after a night of all-out drinking, reeking of booze and vomit.  The circulation of an email referencing an article about a study that concluded “regular swearing at work can help boost spirit among the staff.”  The email’s subject line was:  “Marc Dann [the Attorney General] was right all along.” 

Too bad the staff wasn’t introduced to the Cuss Control Academyto at least give them another point of view.  If you want the full monty on this continuing saga, you should read the entire Dispatch article.

And if you want to end up in the mess the Ohio Attorney General and his colleagues find themselves, implement some of the practices they used while at work and while away from work.  You might have some fun along the way (although not everyone thought it was fun, since a number of employees quit because of the abusive environment before the sex harassment scandal broke), but you’ll eventually descend into the abyss of humiliation.  You’ll also make a lot of employment lawyers happy–at least, the ones who sue you and who defend you.