Top Five Ways To Prevent Sexual Harassment In The Workplace
Unwanted sexual attention, whether with words or actions. is called sexual harassment. This undesired attention can be the actions of a man towards a woman, a woman toward a man, or between people of the same gender. When it occurs in a place of employment it can affect the victim's ability to perform his or her job properly. If the situation is not properly handled, sexual harassment can also negatively impact the employer. Business owners and managers must take an active stand in creating a workplace that is safe and free of unwanted sexual advances or innuendos. The following steps are five of the top ways that this can be prevented.
1. Have Anti-Harassment Policies in Place
Employers should have clear office policies regarding sexual harassment. These policies should plainly define what is meant by sexual harassment and what employees should do if they feel they are being victimized. The policy should also explain how the employer intends to investigate any accusations and what will happen to the accused if the complaint is found to be true. In addition, the policy should give clear examples of harassment scenarios. These policies should be given to employees as they are hired and updated on a regular basis.
2. Educate and Train Staff Members
Education is another key prevention tactic. Education can take the form of an office meeting or training session with all staff members present, including management. These meetings should review the policies on harassment and should answer any questions regarding what constitutes harassment.
3. Investigate Any Complaints
Any complaints of harassment should be looked into immediately. The immediate response of the workplace will do two things. First it will make the victim feel more confident in expressing his or her concerns, and second it will demonstrate that the business takes complaints of this nature seriously. This will act as a deterrent to people who are inclined to behave in this manner.
4. Workplace Monitoring
Not only should an employer educate their employees, they should also ensure that the workplace atmosphere remains free of anything that can be considered sexually discriminatory or offensive. This includes not allowing employees or management to spread jokes, emails or photos that are of a sexual nature.
5. Take Quick Action
One of the most important preventative measures is to enforce the disciplinary rules that are outlined in the anti-harassment manual. If it is determined that sexual harassment has occurred, the guilty party should be dealt with immediately. This shows others that the employer is serious about maintaining a harassment-free environment and will discourage others from behaving in the same manner. Quick action should also be taken when rules regarding emails, photos, etc., are broken.
Sexual harassment can have a negative impact on a person's ability to perform their work. It is the employer's job to ensure that their employees are safe from this type of discrimination and abuse. By following these five steps, a business can prevent or discourage this type of behavior from occurring.
1. Have Anti-Harassment Policies in Place
Employers should have clear office policies regarding sexual harassment. These policies should plainly define what is meant by sexual harassment and what employees should do if they feel they are being victimized. The policy should also explain how the employer intends to investigate any accusations and what will happen to the accused if the complaint is found to be true. In addition, the policy should give clear examples of harassment scenarios. These policies should be given to employees as they are hired and updated on a regular basis.
2. Educate and Train Staff Members
Education is another key prevention tactic. Education can take the form of an office meeting or training session with all staff members present, including management. These meetings should review the policies on harassment and should answer any questions regarding what constitutes harassment.
3. Investigate Any Complaints
Any complaints of harassment should be looked into immediately. The immediate response of the workplace will do two things. First it will make the victim feel more confident in expressing his or her concerns, and second it will demonstrate that the business takes complaints of this nature seriously. This will act as a deterrent to people who are inclined to behave in this manner.
4. Workplace Monitoring
Not only should an employer educate their employees, they should also ensure that the workplace atmosphere remains free of anything that can be considered sexually discriminatory or offensive. This includes not allowing employees or management to spread jokes, emails or photos that are of a sexual nature.
5. Take Quick Action
One of the most important preventative measures is to enforce the disciplinary rules that are outlined in the anti-harassment manual. If it is determined that sexual harassment has occurred, the guilty party should be dealt with immediately. This shows others that the employer is serious about maintaining a harassment-free environment and will discourage others from behaving in the same manner. Quick action should also be taken when rules regarding emails, photos, etc., are broken.
Sexual harassment can have a negative impact on a person's ability to perform their work. It is the employer's job to ensure that their employees are safe from this type of discrimination and abuse. By following these five steps, a business can prevent or discourage this type of behavior from occurring.