Workplace Harassment What Employees Need to Know

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Session Objectives You 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 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 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 What Is Harassment? (cont.) Harassment is often blatant Harassment can also be subtle Behavior short of illegal discrimination

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc What Harassment Is NOT Occasional teasing Offhand comments Isolated incidents that are not extremely serious

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc When Is It Harassment? One extremely serious incident Intimidating, hostile, offensive environment

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc When Is It Harassment? (cont.) Unreasonable interference with work performance Negative effect on an individual’s employment opportunities

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc 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 What the Law Says About Workplace Harassment Title VII State law Requirements

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc 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 Harassment in the Workplace Do you understand the information in the previous slides?

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Verbal Harassment Threats Intimidation Offensive language, slurs, or derogatory comments Graffiti Jokes Circulating insulting stories or rumors about a person

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc 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 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 Harassment Investigations Is an investigation necessary? How long will it take? What intermediate measures may be necessary? Has harassment occurred?

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Questions Asked During Investigations Questions we may ask the person making the complaint

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Questions Asked During Investigations (cont.) Questions we may ask the alleged harasser Questions we may ask witnesses

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc 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 Corrective Action We must make sure: The victim is not adversely affected The harassment stops immediately and does not occur again

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc 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 Identifying Harassment And Correcting Its Effects Do you understand the information presented in the previous slides?

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc 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 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