Strategies For Combating Harassment In The Workplace
Workplace harassment is a pervasive issue that creates toxic environments and undermines productivity. Both employers and employees can benefit from strategies to combat harassment in the workplace and foster a more respectful and inclusive work environment.
By promoting a culture of dignity and civility, businesses can not only avoid legal ramifications but improve morale and productivity. Review a few distinct types of harassment and examine effective ways to discourage that behavior.
Bullying
Workplace bullying involves repeated inappropriate behavior, either direct or indirect. Bullies can intimidate their victims verbally, physically, or otherwise, and the bully may be a single person or a group of employees. Insults, pranks, and jokes at the victim’s expense all constitute bullying.
Strategy:
Employers should adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward bullying and clearly communicate it to all employees. Regular staff training can help employees recognize bullying behaviors and understand the proper response. Encourage open communication and provide channels for employees to report incidents without fear of retaliation.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is one of the most common and damaging forms of workplace harassment. The perpetrators make unwelcome sexual advances and requests for sexual favors, interfering with the victim’s work performance. Sexual harassment frequently creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.
Strategy:
To combat this highly inappropriate behavior, recognize the rights of sexual harassment victims and create a policy that prevents victimization in the first place. Clearly define what constitutes sexual harassment and outline severe consequences for violations. Conduct regular training sessions to educate employees about their rights and responsibilities, take all complaints seriously, and conduct thorough investigations when reports are made.
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Discriminatory Harassment
Workplace discrimination involves harassment of one or more employees based on their race, religion, sex, age, national origin, or disability status. Victims may receive unwanted negative attention or poor treatment based on their protected class.
Strategy:
As with other forms of harassment, your first line of defense as an employer is a robust anti-discrimination policy outlined in employees’ contracts. Conduct diversity and inclusion training programs to educate your staff on the harmful effects of discrimination and teach them to value everyone’s differences. In addition, establish procedures for reporting and addressing incidents of harassment, and take each complaint equally seriously.
Creating a workplace that is free from harassment requires more than a simple policy; it demands a proactive, sustained commitment from everyone in the organization. Consider these strategies to combat workplace harassment as starting points rather than complete solutions. Create an environment that celebrates diversity, fosters respect, and promotes open communication between you and your staff.
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Meet The Writer!
Hi! My name is Nadia Ibrahim-Taney and I help people design happy and fulfilling careers through authentic career coaching. My expertise includes career exploration guidance, resume writing, interview prep and LinkedIn profile optimization. My pronouns are She/ Her/ Hers and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I focus on how diverse identities impact and influence folks holistically and professionally. Please connect with me on LinkedIn or at Nadia@beyonddiscoverycoaching.com
