In light of the sexual harassment and assault allegations taking place in Hollywood, sexual harassment in the workplace can happen to anyone in any industry. Here are 8 things you need to know about harassment in the workplace and how to handle it.
Do you know what you need to know about sexual harassment in the workplace?
Sexual harassment is a complex, multi-faceted issue. Many people don’t know how to recognize it when it happens – and might not even realize when it’s happening to them.
If you’re a business owner, you need to do everything you can to protect and empower your employees. And if you’re an employee, you need to know what to do if you or someone you know gets sexually harassed. But you can’t do it if you don’t have the knowledge you need.
No matter what side of the desk you’re on, knowledge is power. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you better understand sexual harassment in the workplace. Keep reading so you’ll know how to handle complex and confusing situations that may come up.
1. Sexual Harassment Has a Definition
You might have heard the term “sexual harassment” in a lot of different contexts. However, this isn’t a term that people can just attach to any random thing. It does have a specific definition, and it’s important to understand what it is.
Sexual harassment can include sexual behavior, such as sexual advances in the workplace. However, it can also include discriminatory actions that aren’t sexual, but are based on the gender of the person being discriminated against.
Sexual harassment can happen to men as well as women. And it can mean losing promotions and opportunities due to gender, just as much as it can mean hearing an unwanted sexual comment.
2. Quitting Has Consequences
When you’re experiencing sexual harassment at work, you probably want to quit as soon as you can. However, this isn’t always the best move.
People who aren’t employees can’t file lawsuits for sexual harassment against the company – at least, not as easily. However, an employee who files a claim and goes through with an investigation is in a much better position to quit and still go through with a lawsuit.
For more information on how to file lawsuits, check out US Attorneys sexual harassment lawyers.
3. Company Policies Differ
No matter what position you’re in, you should know your company’s sexual harassment policy. These are different at every company, and might need to be changed from time to time.
It’s important for your company to have a policy that tells employees what they should do if they need to file a sexual harassment claim. It’s important to make the process clear and easy to follow, so people won’t hesitate to file a claim when they need to.
Those policies also need to be made available to employees. There should be a company contract, handbook, or another document that contains this information.
The policy should contain information about who the harassment should be reported to, and what needs to happen if the correct steps aren’t taken. If you experience sexual harassment in the workplace, make sure to follow each step as it’s outlined in the policy.
4. Protections Are in Place
Some people won’t file sexual harassment claims because they think it will make them lose a job, or open them up to even more discrimination.
However, the law protects people who file claims of sexual harassment in the workplace. Title VII states that an employer can’t legally retaliate against someone who filed such a claim.
Title VII protects people who help their coworkers with sexual harassment cases, too. If you’re asked to take part in an investigation or give testimony as a witness, the law states that this can’t negatively affect your job.
5. Employers Have to Investigate
Once a sexual harassment claim is filed, the employer is required to investigate it. Sometimes, the entire staff has to take part in the investigation.
The person who is accused of sexual harassment will almost certainly become aware of the accusations during this process. Unfortunately, filing a sexual harassment claim tends not to be anonymous.
Many people on staff might also be able to figure out who made the accusation and who was accused.
6. Harassers Don’t Always Get Fired
Filing a sexual harassment claim doesn’t mean the accused person is going to get fired. In fact, unless the harassment is very consistent or extreme, the chances of them getting fired are low.
However, the employer should take action to help make sure that this kind of harassment won’t happen again. They might need to have trainings on what sexual harassment means. The harasser could also be transferred to another job location, or separated from the person who made the claim in another way.
7. Suing After a Single Incident May Not Work
If the incident only happened once, it might not be enough for a lawsuit.
However, the sexual harassment should still be reported at work. It just likely won’t be enough to put together an entire lawsuit. After all, sexual harassment that starts as a single incident often becomes a repeat behavior. Documenting these issues is a good way to make it easier to take action if they happen again.
It’s also possible that someone else in the office was having the same experience. Sometimes, one report makes it more likely that others will have the confidence to step up and share their experiences.
8. Reports Aren’t Always Made to a Boss
Sometimes, an employee will report sexual harassment instances to their direct supervisor. But this doesn’t work in every case.
The supervisor might actually be the person doing the harassing. Or they might just be too close to the person the claim is being made against. In that case, the employee should go to the HR manager, or look at the employee handbook and follow the guidelines there.
How to Stop Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
It may never be possible to completely eradicate sexual harassment in the workplace. However, the right measures can make it a very rare event. With this information, you’ll be better prepared to stop sexual harassment in its tracks.
Having fewer sexual harassment reports is a good way to boost a company’s reputation. For more reputation management ideas, check out this post on marketing mishaps.
