Sexual Harassment Training: How to Eliminate Hostile Work Environments
Sexual Harassment Training: How to Eliminate Hostile Work Environments
by Brooke Neal
How often do you witness coworkers or other employees doing something unprofessional at work? Whether it’s gossiping, lying to customers or coworkers, dressing inappropriately, cutting corners, or even showing up late or leaving early, many employees are not sure what is acceptable in the workplace unless they are trained. The same principle applies to sexual harassment. Employees need sexual harassment training in order to identify questionable behavior and teach them what actions to take if they ever witness or are subjected to sexual harassment at work.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
| • | Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment |
| • | Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual |
| • | Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment |
 Studies suggest anywhere between 50-70% of women and 10-20% of men have experienced sexual harassment at work. |
Something that seems like harmless fun can quickly turn ugly and create a hostile work environment that leads to low employee morale, low productivity, and a destroyed public image.
Sexual harassment training is the best prevention tool for eliminating sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment training will help to:
| • | Educate employees about actions that constitute harassment and discrimination |
| • | Send a strong message that sexual harassment will not be tolerated |
| • | Explain the importance of promptly reporting sexual harassment |
| • | Teach employees their role in fostering a no-tolerance workplace |
Whether sexual harassment training is required in your state or not, it is important to take the step necessary to prevent sexual harassment from occurring in your workplace. In the long run it will prove beneficial as it will decrease a company’s chances of litigation and create a much more productive, enjoyable, and safe working environment.
Brooke Neal
Guest blogger
School Training Solutions
Discounted Course:
SEXUAL HARASSMENT AWARENESS
This course familiarizes employees with sexual harassment in the workplace. It discusses the legal definition of sexual harassment; recognition of, and understanding how to handle and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace; and the procedure for filing a sexual harassment complaint.
Regularly $15.00 / Now $10.00
