Ways to Prevent Harassment at the Workplace

Category: Business

Essential Steps for Preventing Harassment in the Workplace As a business owner and employer, you have the supreme responsibility to maintain a workplace that is safe for your employees—regardless of gender. Ethically and legally speaking, preventing workplace harassment is your obligation. Speaking in business terms, employees love that their employer cares about them—leading to high moral, high productivity, and a healthy workplace—all good for the business. It should be every employer’s priority to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace and bring on an environment in which men and women equality matters and when it comes to women there are many challenges of women empowerment. In this article, we will look at the definition of sexual harassment and provide information on strategies that you could implement at the workplace to make it safe for your employees. What is Sexual Harassment? Sexual harassment can be defined as any unwelcome sexual advance made by any gender on the same or opposite gender—in the workplace that creates a threatening, hostile, or offensive working atmosphere. Which brings us to the next question. What Can be Construed as Sexual Harassment? Any conduct of a sexual nature that makes a female or male employee uncomfortable can be construed as sexual harassment. The term “sexual harassment” falls under a broad definition; hence it comes in many forms. Following are some examples of sexual harassment in the workplace: A manager hinting to an employee that he/she must sleep with him/her to get a promotion. An employee making condescending comments about female customers to his colleagues. An employee in a retail store feeling uncomfortable by the owner who regularly tells jokes which are sexual in nature. A salesperson fondling or pinching a coworker against their will. A secretary’s superiors demean her/him. An employee sending an email to colleagues that contain sexually explicit language or posting such content on the office board. …and much more. The harasser in question can be anyone—they can be the victim’s manager, administrator, or colleague. In some cases, an employer may even be held accountable for harassment by someone who is not an employee, such as a vendor or customer.