workplace harassment what employees need to know

Workplace Harassment

What Employees Need to Know

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Session ObjectivesYou will be able to:• Understand why harassment is a problem• Identify the requirements of laws and

policies• Recognize signs of harassment• Follow proper reporting procedures and

cooperate with investigations• Understand how you can help maintain a

fair and professional workplace

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

What You Need to Know•What harassment is and how it hurts us all• Laws and workplace policy prohibiting

harassment• Procedures for reporting harassment• Harassment investigations• How complaints are resolved•What you can do to prevent harassment

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

What Is Harassment?• Harassment is

unwelcome behavior directed at a member of a protected group• Harassment usually

involves a pattern of behavior• Harassment is a form

of illegal discrimination

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

What Is Harassment? (cont.)

• Harassment is often blatant• Harassment can also

be subtle• Behavior short of illegal

discrimination

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

What Harassment Is NOT• Occasional teasing

• Offhand comments

• Isolated incidents that are not extremely serious

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

When Is It Harassment?• One extremely

serious incident

• Intimidating, hostile, offensive environment

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

When Is It Harassment? (cont.)

• Unreasonable interference with work performance

• Negative effect on an individual’s employment opportunities

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Why Harassment Is a Problem• Victims may lose their sense of security,

dignity, and confidence• All employees may be demoralized• People may start to feel unsafe on the job• Confidence in the organization may be

threatened• Accused employees may suffer loss of

reputation and credibility—or even their jobs

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

What the Law Says About Workplace Harassment• Title VII• State law• Requirements

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Our Harassment Policy• Firmly prohibits workplace harassment• Encourages victims to come forward• Promises prompt response to employee

complaints• Ensures fair and professional treatment of

all employees • Promotes a respectful work environment

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Harassment in the Workplace• Do you understand the

information in the previous slides?

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Verbal Harassment• Threats• Intimidation• Offensive language,

slurs, or derogatory comments• Graffiti• Jokes• Circulating insulting

stories or rumors about a person

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Nonverbal Harassment• Staring

• Standing over someone in an intimidating manner

• Displaying or circulating offensive pictures, cartoons, or objects

• Singling out members of protected groups for unfavorable treatment

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Harassment Complaints• Report all incidents

right away• No complaints will be

ignored• You are allowed to

bypass the normal chain of command• You will be protected

from further harassment

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Harassment Investigations• Is an investigation

necessary?• How long will it take?• What intermediate

measures may be necessary?• Has harassment

occurred?

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Questions Asked During Investigations• Questions we may

ask the person making the complaint

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Questions Asked During Investigations (cont.)

• Questions we may ask the alleged harasser

• Questions we may ask witnesses

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Has Harassment Occurred?•Making a determination•When no determination is possible• Filing a report• Informing those involved • Dealing with cases involving behavior

short of illegal harassment

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Corrective ActionWe must make sure:• The victim is not

adversely affected • The harassment

stops immediately and does not occur again

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Corrective Action (cont.)

We must also:

• Correct the effects of the harassment

• Follow up to make sure the problem is solved

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Identifying Harassment And Correcting Its Effects• Do you understand the

information presented in the previous slides?

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

How You Can Help Prevent Workplace Harassment• Read and understand

harassment policies and procedures• Monitor your own

behavior• Speak up in support of

a respectful workplace• Report incidents

immediately• Cooperate with

investigations

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706

Key Points to Remember• Illegal harassment is unwelcome behavior

directed at a person because of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex• No rude, insensitive, or abusive behavior

will be tolerated in our organization• You play an important role in helping to

identify and prevent workplace harassment