Sexual harassment complaints can be prosecuted under the same laws that prevent race, gender and religious discrimination. As a small business owner, you cannot afford to break the law. Protect your business, employees and clients when you prevent sexual harassment.
What Is Sexual Harassment?
Any unwelcome sexual conduct or advance that’s intimidating or offensive is considered sexual harassment. It can include derogatory comments, explicit jokes, suggestive emails, demeaning remarks, sexual threats or physical touch.
Both men and women can be victims of sexual harassment. However, it is more common for women to file sexual harassment complaints.
How Can You Prevent Sexual Harassment?
As an employer, you have a responsibility to prevent sexual harassment. If you don’t, you put your employees and clients at risk, could face severe liability and potentially destroy your business. Take these steps as you ensure your workplace remains safe.
- Write a concise and clear sexual harassment policy. It defines sexual harassment, clearly clarifies that it is not acceptable or tolerated, explains consequences and outlines the reporting and investigating process. Update it regularly with any changes.
- Train employees. Some states require annual sexual harassment training. Whether or not yours does, everyone who works for you should understand the seriousness of sexual harassment. They should undergo regular training that provides any policy updates and shares examples of unacceptable sexual harassment. They should also know the procedure for recognizing and reporting any claims.
- Monitor your workplace. Check in regularly with your staff as you make sure sexual harassment isn’t an issue. You don’t have to be “big brother”, but you should be aware of anything that seems off. You also should not allow any actions that appear remotely close to sexual harassment. Jokes, groping or derogatory remarks should all be unacceptable.
- Cultivate an open door policy. Your employees are more likely to share sexual harassment concerns if they know that you are always open to listen. They also need to know that their jobs are not in jeopardy if they share something with you.
- Take complaints seriously. Your employees must know that you take sexual harassment complaints seriously and will not ignore or brush them aside. That includes investigating every complaint no matter who is involved.
- Respect everyone. Model the behavior you wish to see in your employees when you respect your employees, clients, vendors and everyone who walks into your workplace.
Sexual harassment is a serious thing you want to prevent in your workplace. Protect your employees, clients and your business. For more information about how to create a workplace that’s safe for everyone, talk to your attorney.
