1. Workplace Harassment What Employees Need to Know

2. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 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

3. © 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

4. © 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

5. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 What Is Harassment? (cont.) Harassment is often blatant Harassment can also be subtle Behavior short of illegal discrimination

6. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 What Harassment Is NOT Occasional teasing Offhand comments Isolated incidents that are not extremely serious

7. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 When Is It Harassment? One extremely serious incident Intimidating, hostile, offensive environment

8. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 When Is It Harassment? (cont.) Unreasonable interference with work performance Negative effect on an individual’s employment opportunities

9. © 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

10. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 What the Law Says About Workplace Harassment Title VII State law Requirements

11. © 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

12. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 Harassment in the Workplace Do you understand the information in the previous slides?

13. © 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

14. © 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

15. © 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

16. © 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?

17. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 Questions Asked During Investigations Questions we may ask the person making the complaint

18. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 Questions Asked During Investigations (cont.) Questions we may ask the alleged harasser Questions we may ask witnesses

19. © 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

20. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 Corrective Action We must make sure: The victim is not adversely affected The harassment stops immediately and does not occur again

21. © 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

22. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706 Identifying Harassment And Correcting Its Effects Do you understand the information presented in the previous slides?

23. © 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

24. © 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