Harassment: Fostering Mutual Respect in the Workplace

Sexual harassment is perhaps the most well known type of prohibited discriminatory behavior in the workplace.  Harassment of any kind in the workplace is damaging to the well being of your employees and to the work environment.  

Discrimination occurs when an employer bases an employment decision on a person’s sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age or disability.  Harassment is a form of unlawful discrimination that includes all types of physical or verbal conduct that shows hostility toward a person because of that person’s race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability.  Harassment is considered illegal if it is intended to or creates a hostile, intimidating or offensive working environment, unreasonably interferes with a person’s work performance or otherwise adversely impacts the terms, conditions or opportunities of a person’s employment.

There are some steps you can take to assess potential liability in your organization.

• Do an audit of your workplace.  This should include a visual inspection of materials and a review of staff retention by department to see if there is a higher turnover in some and an investigation as to why.
• Review your harassment policy.Make sure that your company policy related to harassment is clear.  If you don’t have a policy, create one.  Discuss your policies often.
• Create a solid complaint procedure.  Assign a few key personnel as the resource to receive all complaints related to harassment.  Make sure that the complaint procedure is clearly stated in the policy.
• Take all complaints seriously. Organizations are heading for trouble when they ignore complaints.  Employees can tell if their complaint is taken seriously or if a superficial investigation was done. 
• Take appropriate action. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, disciplinary action – up to and including termination – may be warranted.  Companies that don’t respond appropriately to complaints are at risk for lawsuits. 
• Provide training. Ensure that all members of your organization receive proper training regarding harassment and your related policies.  Workplace Solutions^® can provide training in this area.
• Communicate your expectations. Lead by example and respond to all incidences of employees not acting in a responsible, respectful way.

For more information on how Workplace Solutions^® can assist your organization in the area of harassment/discrimination, contact us at 800-327-5071.