Regardless of geography and industry, sexual harassment is a persistent problem in the workplace. It happens to both men and women. Regardless of the victim, it has a huge impact on the reputation of the business and the happiness of the employees. In this article, we’ll talk about the best ways to prevent sexual harassment. Take note of these tips to create a safer workplace with no room for harassment in any form.
- Train the Employees
Equipping the employees with the right knowledge about sexual harassment is one of the best things to do. Provide in-classroom training programs and utilize online learning modules. Give them access to compliance blogs and other materials to make them well-informed. Conduct training at least once a year to educate employees about what constitutes sexual harassment and what to do about it. Managers and supervisors also need training so that they will know their respective roles.
For effective sexual harassment training programs, True Office Learning can lend a helping hand.
- Make Managers Responsible
To prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, it also helps to make managers accountable. They need robust training to learn about their roles. They are in the frontline of managing the office, and hence, they are responsible for making sure that sexual harassment does not exist. Managers need to learn how to respond to sexual harassment complaints immediately without showing prejudice to any party. Also, managers must gain the trust of their employees. Otherwise, the employees may be intimated to speak up.
- Draft a Robust Policy
The management needs to create a set of policies that will prevent sexual harassment. A guidebook is a must-have to outline the acts that can constitute sexual harassment, procedures on how the business will deal with it, and consequences for the perpetrators. Without a guidebook, it is difficult to have a solid basis for the implementation of rules.
- Be on the Lookout
Monitoring is important to prevent sexual harassment. There should be a way for the management to monitor electronic communications to spot early on if there is a case that could give rise to sexual harassment. Monitoring the behaviour of employees is also vital. If there is any sign that an employee is misbehaving, the management needs to act as soon as possible and make someone accountable if necessary.
- Cultivate a Positive Work Environment
Cultivating an organizational culture that does not tolerate sexual harassment is also crucial. The managers need to draw the line. Jokes that insinuate sexual pretences should never be encouraged. The management should also encourage its employees to speak up whenever there is any problem, not just sexual harassment.
It is critical for organizations to have a robust approach to preventing sexual harassment. From employee training to cultivating a positive culture, consider our suggestions above to build a better workplace where sexual harassment will not be a problem.
