Posts Tagged ‘sexual harassment’

Sexual Harassment And What You Can Do If It Occurs At Your Office

October 30th, 2010

Sexual harassment takes place whenever a person is treated in a way that makes her feel ashamed, furious or afraid. When the dignity of someone is affected by the act, this is also considered as sexual harassment. When somebody demonstrates to you a form of act, either verbally or non-verbally, and the act has a sexual nature which is purposely meant by the doer, this is likely to be taken into account as sexual harassment. You will be protected by the law if any of these things happen to you.

Whenever you disapprove a sexual conduct and due to that you are treated less favourably, this is also thought-about as sexual harassment. Basically sexual harassment can be divided into three parts, and the first one is bodily harassment, and that the victim is commonly touched physically during the harassment. Secondly, it includes the uninvited comments about the appearance of a female worker that are sexual in nature. Third, it involves a non-verbal sexual gestures like exhibiting a pornographic sign utilizing the fingers or exhibiting printed pornographic materials.

You are not required to show any evidence that you are affected by the harassment in any means if you want to file a case claiming for sexual harassment. A working atmosphere that is intimidating to you is enough to be used as evidence that sexual harassment is there at your workplace. If the harassment is done by your co-worker, and your employer doesn’t start any actions to curb it despite the fact that he was informed about it, he can be chargeable for the harassing attempts.

Some workers refuse to stand up for their own rights against sexual harassment since they are worried that their employer may victimise them if they proceed with the claim. Gratefully, the law recognizes the vitality of protecting the rights of sexual harassment victims.

Due to that, an Act has been legislated stating that an employer is not permitted to victimize a staff if she comes up with a sexual harassment claim. Proof of evidence is obliged to be presented by the worker when filing her case for sexual harassment and the employer is given permission to defend himself against the claim too.

Learn all about the sexual harassment and ways to ensure you are not being taken advantage of. If you wish to find out more about this, visit http://www.sexualharassmentintheworkplace.co.uk now.


How Concerned Should You Be About Sexual Harassment In Your Workplace?

October 22nd, 2010

As an employer, there are numerous legal pitfalls which can be avoided through proper training and prevention measures. Sexual harassment is one such pitfall. Not only must you be worried about sexual harassment occurring in your workplace, you must also be concerned with the devastating legal and financial repercussions which can result from even a single such occurrence.

Sexual harassment can be a devastating factor for your business. It can destroy relationships within the workforce, cause good employees to walk out the door, or even force you to close your doors after losing a legal battle on a claim.

Many employers make the mistake of underestimating the effects that a single legal claim can have on their business. Supreme Court rulings on the subject of sexual harassment have placed the burden of proof squarely on the shoulders of employers. In other words, an employer has a legal obligation not only to show it has addressed any claims of harassment that have been made but to have taken sufficient preventative action as well. Even in cases where no official claim has been presented, an employer can be held liable, especially if a supervisor observed behaviors and failed to address them.

Even if you address a claim of sexual harassment in the best possible and most timely manner, you can still be held legally, and therefore financially, accountable for the harassment. If you’ve failed to train supervisors, managers, and even average employees on the subject, you may find yourself in very trepid waters should an employee or former employee file a claim within the legal system.

In instances where supervisors are the ones doing the harassing, the company can easily be held liable for the behavior, even if there is a well-established and expertly documented policy against such behavior. Even in some instances where the average employee is harassing another, the company can be held liable, especially if the behavior is not addressed in the appropriate manner or in a timely fashion by a supervisor.

Educating the average employee on how to report harassment is an essential step in safeguarding your business against legal suits and financial liability. Educating supervisors on how to handle complaints is also a means of protecting your business.

While in this day and age it may seem like people should have the common sense not to get themselves or your company into a legal pickle, the fact of the matter is that many still don’t realize what actually constitutes sexual harassment. And unfortunately, many supervisors, without proper training, can make their own judgment calls which may or may not be accurate.

Supervisors who don’t fully understand what is considered sexual harassment under the law often allow employees to engage in risky behaviors which can put the company in harm’s way.

Regardless of how a claim of harassment within your organization may turn out, you are obligated to follow through with an investigation into the matter. The manner in which that investigation is conducted can influence the outcome of any subsequent legal issues which might arise from the claim.

In other words, every supervisor within your organization must understand that you have a policy in place regarding sexual harassment and a standard investigation procedure for looking into each and every claim. That investigation should be conducted by your human resources staff or by your legal counsel in some circumstances. The average supervisor may take the initial claim but the matter should be passed off to those more familiar with procedure and without any personal investment in the outcome of any findings.

Most employees don’t realize that sexual harassment can take a number of forms, and even the majority of supervisors are surprised to learn a company can be held liable for sexual harassment in the workplace even if they were unaware that it is, or at one time was, occurring. The vast majority of supervisors don’t realize that they too can be held legally liable for allowing sexual harassment to go on under their charge.

Your company’s risk management plan should include a strict sexual harassment prevention policy, a standard investigation procedure, and consistent application of both. Additionally, you should implement supervisory and management sexual harassment prevention training and conduct training sessions on a regular schedule. This should include new leadership training as well as refresher courses for your long-term supervisors and managers. Documenting participation in any such training is another essential step in managing risk.

Maureen Treacy Lau, (MA, Multicultural Education) is an educator, producer and executive with an extensive background producing award-winning instructional videos, public television programs and innovative university projects. She is the founder of Lumina Productions, Inc. and Lumina Training which specializes in sexual harassment training videos.


Benefits Of Sexual Harassment Prevention Training In The Workplace

July 16th, 2010

While work related sexual harassment is certainly not a recent problem, legal liability for it has only recently gained legislative attention. The first sexual harassment case under Title VII was decided in 1976. In 1991, Title VII was amended to allow victims of sexual harassment to recover damages under federal law. In 1993, a Supreme Court decision made it easier to adjudicate injury under this law. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states that all covered employers should provide sexual harassment training and several states have taken those guidelines to more specific extremes. California’s AB 1825 of 2004 is among the strictest and most demanding of these requirements. For businesses in these states, providing training is not just good prevention, it isrequisite. Furthermore, recent decisions have upheld complaints against businesses that did not disseminate or enforce policy, even though policy was in place.

But compliance and legal liability are not the only reasons a credible business should provide anti-harassment training to its employees. In 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 12,696 charges filed under Title VII alleging sexual harassment discrimination. Even though about half (47.7%) were closed with “No Reasonable Cause”, the reported cost of those claims was $51.5 Million dollars, NOT including monetary benefits obtained through litigation. In addition, costs resulting from employee morale can not be unheeded. The article, “Sexual Harassment in the Fortune 500,” (Working Woman, Dec. 19, 1988) claims that “ignoring problems of sexual harassment can cost the average company up to $6.7 million a year in low productivity, low morale, and employee turnover and absenteeism.”

Some businesses have feared that implementing training programs would encourage lawsuits, but according to Caren Goldberg of American University’s Kogod School of Business, “If an employer is sued, proof that sexual harassment training was offered may be one of the best defenses.” A study in the journal, Psychology of Women Quarterly, shows that subjects were no less likely to seek legal counsel after receiving sexual harassment training than the control group that did not receive training. Considering the high number of “No Reasonable Cause” claims, training could even potentially reduce impulsive claims by educating employees to interpret what does NOT constitute a violation and by demonstrating non-litigous ways to address concerns.

Another roadblock to providing training is the cost of doing so itself. With the passage of California’s AB 1825 training mandates, there quickly followed an explosion in the training industry. Many sexual harassment prevention courses and price points are available to choose from. Employers can select from on-site, in-person guest trainers, online webinar courses, and web-based training courses where employees work at their own pace and receive personalized instruction through email and IM.

Companies that adopt quality sexual harassment policies and then provide quality training to their employees can create positive and productive corporate cultures that will impact their bottom line and have employees lining up at the door to apply.

For more information about online sexual harassment training online and how it can help your business, visit New Media Learning, the market leaders in employee compliance training.


A Few Options To Deal With Workplace Bullying

June 10th, 2010

Unfortunately for some people, bullying might not end as we graduate school. Workplace bullying is a fairly common problem. If you are dealing with this problem, some help may be in order. Consider these ideas carefully.

You will find that the typical bully will use several tactics to harass and humiliate the victims. Both verbal and nonverbal, physical and psychological methods are employed. It is important that you understand some of your options if you are currently dealing with this.

Bullying is possible from both your bosses and your co-workers. It doesn’t matter who is bullying you, you don’t have to put up with it. If you do not think that you can deal with it any longer, report to your companies human resource officer and seek help. If the threats are physical in nature, don’t waste any more time. Report it to an employer who will help, or even the police.

Some people find that it helps to speak with other individuals who have dealt with similar situations in the past. Whether that be a family member or a mentor that you trust, speak with someone to avoid bottling it all up. Just talking about it can help you feel better about the situation, and they may have some good advice as well.

It is important that you continue to do your job and do it well. The bully is going to want you to fail at everything you do, including your work. Every instance of success in the workplace is a loss for the bully, and a victory for you. Try and retain control of your daily life and don’t allow them to hurt your work ethic and performance.

If all other options have failed to bring you any relief, it might be time to confront the bully head on. If you decide to do this, be sure and remain calm and professional. Never show any weaknesses by crying or getting upset or angry. All of these things can encourage a bully to keep coming back for more. Another point is that you must never be forced into isolation. Keep your workplace friendships intact.

No one deserves to be bullied. It can be a difficult situation to deal with. You actually have many solutions at your disposal. Consider talking to your human resource officer or a superior who may be able to help. If you can do it in the correct manner, consider standing up for yourself face to face. Whatever you decide to do, you must take a stand for yourself.

Handling workplace bullying can be a delicate situation if you are worried about keeping your job. You should report workplace harassment or threatening statements and activities immediately.

categories: workplace bullying,workplace harassment,harassment in the workplace,sexual harassment,hostile workplace,workplace discrimination


Fight Back Against Workplace Harassment You Have Rights

May 4th, 2010

There is nothing worse then going to work and becoming a victim of workplace harassment. It is cruel and demoralizing to be ridiculed and demeaned anywhere, but when it is in a place that you have to be for eight hours a day with no respite then it becomes downright tortuous. Many feel that it is better to remain silent for fear of losing our jobs and all the misery that can come from it. When it becomes unbearable and we can no longer put up with the harassment then it’s time to take matters into our own hands and finally do something about it.

Many employees that are victims of workplace harassment continue to put up with the humiliation because they are afraid of losing their jobs. They are not educated in the law and don’t know that there are laws that will protect them. Stop being afraid and stand up for yourself. Don’t let anyone regardless of who they are treat you like a doormat. You are just as important as anyone else and you deserve to be treated with respect. If the harassing behavior continues then you have to find out your rights and do something about it.

The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) has set down a guideline , which will give you an idea if you have a case of workplace harassment. It reads as follows: “Offensive conduct may include, but is not limited to, offensive jokes, slurs, epithets or name calling, physical assaults or threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, and interference with work performance”.

If you are going to go through with any type of legal action then you have to have evidence to support your claim of workplace harassment. This can be in the form of a recorded conversation that shows the harassment taking place. In today’s electronic world it is very easy to hide a miniature recorder or even a small video device. It is important that you don’t entrap the person because you will have a hard time in court proving your case. A good defense lawyer will make you seem like the criminal and try to attack your character. Save any electronic communication that supports your case. Write down the time and date of each occurrence and anybody that might have witnessed the event taking place. Initiate a formal complaint with Human Resources and your supervisor if this is applicable. If it is your boss that is doing the harassing then make sure that you have enough evidence to support your case before you approach him. Sometimes just the threat of legal action will be enough to make them stop. You must also talk to a lawyer as soon as you have enough evidence. This is very important and will go along way in getting satisfaction and maybe help the next unsuspecting victim.

Do not be afraid of repercussions. There are laws, which protect us and guarantee us a safe working environment, this includes physically and mentally. If you feel you are a victim of workplace harassment then you must do something about it because if it is happening to you then there is a good chance that it will happen to someone else also.

Know your rights and stop being a victim. Visit my website at Hostile Workplace and discover what you can do to fight Workplace Harassment. You have more power then you think you do. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service


Have You Found Yourself Subjected To Sexual Harassment In The Workplace? Have You Found Yourself Working In A Hostile Environment? Perhaps, The Lawsuit Loan Would Assist You In Pursuing The Harasser (Part 1)

November 17th, 2009

The article which follows was written for those who find themselves subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace. This article is intended to assist individuals in identifying whether they’ve been subjected to some form of sexual harassment in the workplace and, if so, what are the steps that may be taken. It also identifies what must be satisfied to obtain a lawsuit loan.

What steps should you take first? The first thing you need to do is to make certain that the activity to which you’re being subjected qualified as such harassment. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states that unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or any conduct of a sexual nature is morally wrong, unethical, and unacceptable in the workplace.

Many times employees either submit to or find themselves having to reject such advances, worrying that such behavior will defeat any claim for harassment in the workplace. However, if an employee either submits to her rejects these advances, those actions may not be used against the employee as a basis on which employment decisions would be made. Furthermore, such advances should never be used to either intimidate or subject to the employee to either a hostile or offensive work environment. It makes no difference whether the conduct was intentional or unintentional.

Sexual harassment may occur as either “quid pro quo” harassment (i.e., “something for something”) or “hostile work environment.” Lawsuit loans may assist you in pursuing either or both forms.

Quid pro quo harassment occurs when a basis for employment decisions affecting an employee includes either submission and to or rejection of conduct constituting sexual harassment. This form of harassment occurs when a supervisor, manager, or someone else who’s in a position to influence employment decisions, utilizes the employee’s submission or rejection as a criterion in assessing the employee’s performance.

If the situation occurs in the workplace specifically for the purpose of interfering with an employee’s work performance, or has such an effect, a hostile environment has been created. A hostile work environment is created any time either an intimidating or offensive workplace is created for a specific employee. Unfortunately, employees often feel as though they cannot afford to pursue an action against the harasser, and just put up with the egregious conduct. A lawsuit loan may significantly change this situation.

This conduct is in violation of Title VII if the actor intends to create a hostile work environment and succeeds in doing so. However, it is important to note that such conduct may constitute a hostile work environment, even if the actor did not intend to create such an environment, if the conduct is prohibited under Title VII.

In our next article, we will discuss ways in which to address the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace. If you think that a lawsuit loan could keep you from hopelessly accepting the harasser’s conduct, you are encouraged to investigate this option without further delay!

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