workplace harassment what employees need to know
TRANSCRIPT
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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
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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
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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
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What Is Harassment? (cont.)
• Harassment is often blatant• Harassment can also
be subtle• Behavior short of illegal
discrimination
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What Harassment Is NOT• Occasional teasing
• Offhand comments
• Isolated incidents that are not extremely serious
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When Is It Harassment?• One extremely
serious incident
• Intimidating, hostile, offensive environment
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When Is It Harassment? (cont.)
• Unreasonable interference with work performance
• Negative effect on an individual’s employment opportunities
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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
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What the Law Says About Workplace Harassment• Title VII• State law• Requirements
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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
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Harassment in the Workplace• Do you understand the
information in the previous slides?
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Verbal Harassment• Threats• Intimidation• Offensive language,
slurs, or derogatory comments• Graffiti• Jokes• Circulating insulting
stories or rumors about a person
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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
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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
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Harassment Investigations• Is an investigation
necessary?• How long will it take?• What intermediate
measures may be necessary?• Has harassment
occurred?
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Questions Asked During Investigations• Questions we may
ask the person making the complaint
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Questions Asked During Investigations (cont.)
• Questions we may ask the alleged harasser
• Questions we may ask witnesses
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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
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Corrective ActionWe must make sure:• The victim is not
adversely affected • The harassment
stops immediately and does not occur again
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Corrective Action (cont.)
We must also:
• Correct the effects of the harassment
• Follow up to make sure the problem is solved
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Identifying Harassment And Correcting Its Effects• Do you understand the
information presented in the previous slides?
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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
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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