In our Sexual Harassment Awareness training seminars your employees will learn and apply the important skills of handling sexual harassment issues and complaints. This hands on workshop thoroughly addresses the elements of how to prevent unacceptable behavior. The class includes a detailed overview of what sexual harassment is, explains legal definitions, discusses sexual harassment prevention, and shows how to handle sexual harassment complaints and maintain a positive work environment.

For more information about individual sexual harassment training courses please complete this form.  Once the form is received one of our consultants will provide you with a confidential proposal that will include a detailed description of the training seminar and the costs for conducting it. 

Sexual Harassment Training: Hostile Workplace Harassment - When Employers Are Liable

The Supreme Court has weighed in on Hostile Workplace Harassment with their landmark decision on Ellerth v. Burlington Industries. Prior to this decision employees who were harassed had to prove a financial or job-related harm was caused by the harassment. This made the hurdle to prove harassment a high one. With the new decision employers are now liable for the hostile environment the employee endured.

The plaintiff in Ellerth v. Burlington was threatened and harassed by her boss for over a year, but did not suffer any financial or job-related loss. In fact, she was actually promoted by that boss. Burlington had argued that because she had not suffered a job-related loss that they were not liable. The court ruled 7-2 in Ms. Ellerth's favor. She was allowed to recover damages for Hostile Workplace Harassment.

This change in the Sexual Harassment is crucial for employers to address. No longer can they rely on defending themselves with the same defense as Burlington. If the supervisor threatens to not to promote an employee unless he receives sexual favors and doesn't follow through, the employer is still liable for making the workplace hostile for that employee.

Employers now need to train their employees on this aspect of harassment. Hostile Workplace Harassment can be unwanted jokes, touching, leering, threats or anything else that makes the workplace hostile for that employee. The behavior does not even have to be directed at the employee who files the claim.

Employees can feel the environment is hostile by overhearing and working within the environment. Jokes, threats and other behavior have no place in the workplace and training employees will keep the company out of court and make the workplace a more productive one.

Source: Charlie King link