NAR’s Muddled Messaging Still Can’t Keep Up With The Facts

Debra Kamin’s investigative report for The New York Instances on sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation at NAR has despatched shockwaves all through the true property trade.

In interviews with 29 present and former NAR staff and leaders, victims of alleged sexual harassment, discrimination and a poisonous work atmosphere inside NAR have damaged their silence to disclose what Kamin described as “a yearslong sample of harassment and retaliation on the group.”

Along with her interviews, Kamin additionally reviewed two lawsuits, a discrimination grievance and an inner memo despatched to NAR’s human assets division. Her analysis confirmed that Janelle Brevard and “two different girls filed formal harassment complaints. All three girls had been later provided severance funds that required them to signal nondisclosure agreements. NAR declined to remark.” 

Furthermore, “16 of the allegations examined by The Instances of both sexual harassment or an abusive tradition concerned Mr. Parcell.”

Right here we’ll have a look at the way in which NAR’s particular person and organizational messaging has modified over time, each within the months main as much as and within the days because the Instances article, together with the shortage of an ample response from NAR management as lately as Aug. 28.

Parcell categorically denied the fees

Within the face of 16 completely different girls coming ahead in Kamin’s article, Parcell nonetheless maintained that he had finished nothing flawed. Kamin writes: 

By way of his lawyer, Mr. Parcell, 50, referred to as the accusations in opposition to him “categorically false.”

“I’m a pleasant and outgoing individual in a world that’s rising ever extra cynical, conflicted, and chilly,” stated Mr. Parcell in an announcement. “Nicely-intended actions on my half are being twisted and distorted.”

When requested in an interview if the group has a problem with sexual harassment, the N.A.R. chief govt Bob Goldberg stated, “I might not characterize it as an issue.”

Monday afternoon, Parcell resigned. In his resignation, he continued to name the accusations “categorically false.”

NAR nonetheless failing to prioritize security

Given Goldberg’s assertion above, his response to the next employees member’s concern about her security on the iOi, NAR’s actual property funding alternatives convention, in Miami which began Aug. 28, was bewildering. Needless to say this was earlier than Kenny Parcell’s resignation, when he was nonetheless anticipated to look on the convention.

About quarter-hour later, this employees member obtained the next message: 

Parcell is “conscious of our common concern … and he understands”? How in regards to the employees member above who’s terrified and all the opposite employees who really feel the identical manner she does — the place’s the priority for them and their security? 

NAR might not tolerate sexual harassment, however what about this management crew? 

As of August 23, 2023, NAR CEO Bob Goldberg was nonetheless claiming that NAR doesn’t tolerate discrimination, harassment or retaliation of any sort. He made the next assertion: 

Good afternoon –

A few of you could have seen the put up from Tracy Kasper that appeared on The Hub earlier in the present day. I wish to take this chance to reiterate her message and make it unequivocally clear that NAR doesn’t tolerate discrimination, harassment or retaliation of any sort and enforces a zero-tolerance coverage each time such violations are discovered to have occurred. In truth, I recorded a video addressing this subject not way back, which is a part of the harassment prevention coaching program for employees at present in progress.

Should you noticed me on stage with Tracy in the course of the closing session of Management Summit, I spoke about my perception in Management within the Sunshine; particularly, the significance of sharing with staff the whole lot that’s happening – good, dangerous, or in any other case. My dedication to that administration philosophy stays as robust in the present day because it was the day I grew to become your CEO some six years in the past. 

With that in thoughts, I needed to offer you a heads up relating to a New York Instances article addressing harassment in the true property trade that we anticipate to be printed any day now. Sadly, we’re anticipating a unfavorable piece that — along with specializing in trade conditions — touches on NAR and our tradition as an employer. 

We perceive your concern in regards to the forthcoming protection. Please know that we’re doing the whole lot in our energy to right the document, defend the good work we do, and keep our repute as a Nice Place to Work. When given the chance to take action, we offered the New York Instances reporter with the next assertion:

NAR doesn’t tolerate discrimination, harassment or retaliation. Any incident is one too many. We comply with clear reporting procedures to analyze any concern of concern delivered to our consideration and take corrective motion as wanted, as much as and together with employees or member termination. We urge individuals to report illegal or inappropriate conduct. NAR has a number of insurance policies and assets in place to discourage inappropriate conduct, together with anti-harassment and bystander intervention trainings, and escalation protocols to make sure individuals are revered. We’ll stay persistent in persevering with to take a look at and undertake further finest practices. 

Deny, deny, deny

First, Goldberg’s assertion in regards to the NYT article being in regards to the trade is fake. It was solely dedicated to the sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation inside NAR. 

Second, if “one incident is simply too many,” how can he justify overlooking 16 alleged incidents? 

Third, in keeping with Inman’s Christy Murdock, NAR has been spinning this story since at the very least December 2022. The problems Murdock raises in her article “NAR’s sexual harassment spin isn’t fooling anybody. Right here’s why” are substantial.

Lengthy earlier than the NYT article was printed and even rumored to exist, nevertheless, NAR’s PR machine was onerous at work, publishing content material in regards to the strides it’s making on sexual harassment each on NAR’s personal website and elsewhere.

These included blog-style posts plus a PowerPoint presentation ready by NAR Deputy Common Counsel and Vice President of Authorized Affairs and Antitrust Compliance Lesley M. Muchow.

Subsequently:

On Aug. 15, 2023, RISMedia printed an editorial by NAR CEO Bob Goldberg headlined, “Op-Ed: NAR seems to guide combat in opposition to office harassment.” The article was subsequently posted on NAR’s personal web site and run by RISMedia as a sponsored commercial by means of Google Advertisements as the primary supply for the search time period: NAR sexual harassment.

Previous to that, and at across the identical time that rumors of an upcoming New York Instances exposé had been made public at Inman Join Las Vegas, NAR printed one other article on its web site headlined, “NAR Prioritizes a Respectful Office” on Aug. 10, 2023.

That article consists of the next passage, together with a quote from Goldberg:

As sexual harassment and discrimination within the office reaches a brand new stage of consciousness in society, the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors says it’s dedicated to offering a productive and welcoming atmosphere for its 350 full-time employees members. This implies making clear that discrimination, harassment and retaliation won’t ever be tolerated by the affiliation, together with inside worker workspaces and at NAR-sanctioned occasions, says CEO Bob Goldberg. And it means doing the whole lot potential to create and keep a tradition that pays correct respect to the immense quantity of belief positioned within the affiliation.

Even earlier, in Feb. 2023, an article headlined “Stopping Sexual Harassment” started with this:

The Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors’ Q2 2022 Quarterly Danger Report particulars how the variety of sexual harassment claims filed beneath NAR’s Skilled Legal responsibility Insurance coverage Program by means of October 2022 have dramatically elevated, outnumbering comparable claims filed in 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Janelle Brevard was fired from her job in September 2022, alleging in her subsequently withdrawn lawsuit that she instructed Kenny Parcell on the finish of Q2 2022, that she needed to finish their relationship.

What the NAR Code of Conduct says 

There’s no query that NAR has promulgated a voluminous quantity of steerage and requirements of observe required of each Realtors and employees. The NAR Code of Conduct clearly states the affiliation’s stance on discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, how reporting of those incidents ought to happen, and the way they need to be investigated. 

In an article dated June 30, 2023, Inman reported:

Days after a brand new lawsuit accused the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors and President Kenny Parcell of sexual and racial harassment, the commerce group revealed it beforehand knew about and investigated the claims — and reiterated that it rejects them — whilst trade members demanded accountability on Friday.

In an announcement to Inman on Friday, NAR spokesperson Mantill Williams stated his group “prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all our staff,” and that it investigates claims of misconduct. Considerably, the assertion additionally reveals that NAR “beforehand, totally investigated the claims on this lawsuit by hiring an impartial, exterior legislation agency to conduct the investigation and advise on lawful outcomes.”

Based mostly on the findings of that impartial, third-party investigation, we reject the claims filed on this lawsuit and we are going to vigorously defend in opposition to them. 

So, Bob Goldberg knew in regards to the claims, however rejected them. Apparently, based mostly upon the knowledge above, he nonetheless does.

Kamin’s article isn’t just about Kenny Parcell — it’s about systemic points at NAR

Debra Kamin’s investigative report has revealed troubling allegations of harassment and discriminatory practices inside NAR. Whereas Kenny Parcell was a central determine in these claims, Kamin’s story means that the problems are far more widespread. 

Murdock made the next commentary about Kamin’s article in a put up on her weblog: 

Sure, Parcell is a giant a part of this story, however reporter Debra Kamin goes out of her option to present that this can be a systemic concern and goes additional than his alleged conduct. There’s details about the tradition at Transfer Inc. There’s speak about conduct at occasions. This isn’t an remoted incident.

Though CEO Bob Goldberg proclaims NAR’s dedication to a harassment-free atmosphere, Murdock’s analysis reveals that the present NAR management crew was spinning these tales way back to December of 2022. Goldberg continues to fall brief by way of making a protected office for the employees for whom he’s accountable. 

Though these points alone are alarming, there’s an excellent bigger concern lurking over this NAR management crew. That will likely be lined in a forthcoming evaluation.