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Sexual Harassment Training Class: Handling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Sexual harassment is defined as the unwanted behavior of a sexual nature towards a person of the opposite or same sex. This can occur as physical contact, verbal derogatory comments, or non-verbal actions that are sexual in nature. For instance, making lewd gestures with one's body.
A person behaving in this way may not consider the behavior as anything more than good natured fun, but it is considered harassment if the person who the behavior is directed towards considers it unwelcome.
Many organizations have suffered huge legal judgments against them, for an employee who perpetrates a sexual harassment. As a result, organizations formulate policy with respect to this issue.
All employees should be made aware of these policies and have access to the information.
Employers are responsible for preventing complaints regarding sexual harassment by initiating workplace policies and by training staff members on how these complaints are to be dealt with.
Personal safety of employees
The following options should be considered if you are harassed:
The offender must be told to stop the behavior.
If you are uncomfortable about telling the individual to stop, have a colleague speak to the person privately on your behalf.
Write a letter to the offender expressing your views to have them stop. Keep a copy of the letter to document the incident, the course of conduct and your attempts to have the behavior cease.
It is imperative that you speak to the person's supervisor.
Other options to consider if the behavior does not cease
Most unions have policies on sexual harassment and are able to provide assistance through their union representative at work.
A person under an employment contract may find that there may be stipulated grievance procedures, which can be directed to the employer for resolution.
Seek advice from your union representative, or through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
The person committing the sexual harassment may not feel as though they are doing anything harmful; however, a person who is a victim of harassment may also be a candidate for workplace violence. They may also be culpable of stalking outside of the workplace.
It is therefore recommended that a person who is the victim of a sexual harassment, consider certain self defense products for their protection. All of the options are relatively inexpensive and effective against a physical attack.
For instance, a personal alarm emits a loud piercing noise, usually in excess of 100 decibels. They are designed to draw attention to an emergency and scare off an attacker.
Pepper Spray comes in various containers, strengths and spray patterns. Pepper spray is made of a chemical that can be sprayed directly in an attacker's face, to temporarily incapacitate them.
Stun guns and Taser devices use electricity to interrupt the neuro-muscular system of an attacker, causing them to stop their aggressive moves. By doing so, it allows you to get away from the situation and to summon help.
In conclusion, unwelcome sexual advances in the workplace should not be taken lightly. They can lead to costly lawsuits, emotional trauma and even physical violence.
Source: Irv Gelbart link
