4 Ways to Prevent Workplace Harassment
Sexual harassment in the
workplace is a
form of employment discrimination that may violate federal laws like Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the
Americans with Disabilities Act. The Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
issued a list of best practices for employers to use in their workplaces to
prevent Sexual harassment of women
at workplace.
According to the EEOC, the following five core principles have generally proven
effective in preventing and addressing workplace harassment.
Leadership
According to the EEOC, employers should consistently demonstrate a
commitment to creating and maintaining a culture in which workplace harassment
is not tolerated. This should be part of an overall strategy that promotes
diversity, inclusion and a belief that all employees in a workplace deserve to
be respected, regardless of their race, religion, national origin, sex
(including pregnancy, sexual orientation or gender identity), age, disability
or genetic information.
Accountability
Because a workplace culture is manifested by which behaviours are
formally and informally rewarded or punished, employers should demonstrate to
their employees that they take workplace harassment issues seriously through
appropriate responses to harassment and complaints. For example, employers
should encourage employees to report harassing behaviour and should acknowledge
employees’ efforts to help maintain a harassment-free workplace. In addition,
employers should ensure that individuals who engage in harassment receive
prompt, consistent discipline that is proportional to the severity of the
harassment.
Harassment
Complaint Systems
Effective reporting systems for allegations of harassment are among the
most critical elements of an employer’s overall anti-harassment efforts. An
employer’s system should include both a means by which individuals who have
experienced harassment can report the harassment and file a complaint, as well
as a means by which employees who have observed harassment can report that to
the employer.
Harassment
Training Programs
Leadership, accountability, and strong harassment policies and complaint
systems are essential components of a successful harassment prevention
strategy, but only if employees are aware of them. Regular, interactive and
comprehensive training of all employees may help ensure that employees understand
an employer’s rules, policies, procedures and expectations, as well as the
consequences of misconduct.
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