How to Prevent Sexual Harassment

How to Prevent Sexual Harassment

[pic]

By an eHow Contributor

1. Put your company's sexual harassment policy in writing and have every employee read it and sign it. Many larger companies put a copy of the sexual harassment rules along with the hiring paperwork to ensure that every employee has reviewed the information. The policy should be stated in clear, easy to understand language and every employee should be given the opportunity to ask pertinent questions afterward.

2. Adopt a clear zero tolerance policy toward sexual harassment to prevent its occurrence in your workplace. State in no uncertain terms that anyone found guilty of sexual harassment will be terminated immediately, with no exceptions.

3. Explain to all employees that any claim of sexual harassment will be investigated thoroughly in a consistent and objective manner. In addition, all employees should be informed of the proper procedures involved when reporting an incidence of sexual harassment.

4. Review the company's sexual harassment policy with all employees on an annual basis. This meeting should include a thorough explanation of what sexual harassment is, and how it affects the company in a negative way. Recap all reporting procedures and remind your employees that they have a right to work in a company that is free from sexual harassment.

5. Train the management of the company to know how to identify and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace by reviewing all reporting procedures and by insisting that every claim of sexual harassment is handled in the same way, with seriousness and objectivity. This training should be performed separately from the meeting held for other employees in order to be effective.

6. Talk to employees about conditions in the workplace. Ask them if they have seen instances of sexual harassment, and if those claims were handled properly. Keep the lines of communication open at all times to prevent sexual harassment from occurring.

7. Take all sexual...