Employee cross the line? Do you know what your role as a manager is when it comes to sexual harassment prevention?

by Apr 6, 2022

You may have been through harassment prevention training. But do you really know your role in creating a positive environment for your employees? 

 

Open communication is a good place to start.

 

  • Be honest and open. You may not need to withhold as much information as you are now. Tell your employees what keeps you up at night, what your goals are for the department. Be transparent and consistent. The more you tell them, the more they’ll share with you, including their concerns.

 

  • Facilitate conversations around topics such as professionalism, inclusion, respect, and empathy. Choose one of these words and begin each staff meeting by asking people to talk about what it means, e.g. have a hugger in the office? Discuss the professionalism of workplace hugging – don’t hug anyone you supervise or are dating.

 

  • Say something every time you hear or see a microaggression. It’s those brief and commonplace indignities that can fly under the radar and, unless you intervene, can move from a snarky comment to hostile – and illegal – in a heartbeat. And by not saying something in the moment, you’re sending the message that others don’t need to either. And the cycle begins.

 

  • Work with your teams to create action items that will keep a positive culture alive in your workplace. Consider creating a spreadsheet with your core values.  Work with your team to come up with action items for each. Hold one another accountable – it’s a core value!

 

  • Sharpen your skills. Provide training for your managers on how to facilitate conversations about respect and inclusion and how to manage behavior in addition to managing performance. The way leaders communicate can shape an organizations’ attitudes toward sexual harassment. We can help you. Check out our extensive list of topics here. Attend our Harassment Prevention Training at no cost.

 

Research by Stanford University sociologists suggest that when leaders communicate that preventing sexual harassment is given high priority, their employees will take the issue more seriously. 

 

So what are your next steps? 

 

Join us! We’re offering a no cost, super interactive Harassment Prevention Training Webinar on April 25th at 9AM PST. Be sure to save the date in your calendar, and register in advance here!

 

PS – We are excited to announce that our Strategic HR course is featured in LinkedIn Learning’s new Pathfinder! It will be FREE until April 29th, so be sure to check it out this month!!

 

Let’s create a plan to build a positive workplace! | Invite Catherine to speak | Check out our webinar library

Incivility, bullying, and harassment occur because the culture allows them to. Before starting inclusivity initiatives, you’ve got to stop bad behavior. Take this assessment to determine if your workplace fosters a positive culture.

 

About Catherine Mattice

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is President of consulting and training firm, Civility Partners, and has been successfully providing programs in workplace bullying and building positive workplaces since 2007. Her clients include Fortune 500’s, the military, several universities and hospitals, government agencies, small businesses and nonprofits. She has published in a variety of trade magazines and has appeared several times on NPR, FOX, NBC, and ABC as an expert, as well as in USA Today, Inc Magazine, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, and more. Catherine is Past-President of the Association for Talent Development (ATD), San Diego Chapter and teaches at National University. In his book foreword, Ken Blanchard called her book, BACK OFF! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, “the most comprehensive and valuable handbook on the topic.” She recently released a second book entitled, SEEKING CIVILITY: How Leaders, Managers and HR Can Create a Workplace Free of Bullying.

How the Lack of Training Affects your Organization

The workforce is the heart of any thriving company. However, without proper training, employees may find themselves ill-equipped to meet the demands of their roles effectively.  Millennials think learning and growing are important reasons for joining a new company....

Why it’s Getting Harder for Some Women to Report Harassment

The United Nations Women found that about 1 in every 3 women has been sexually harassed at work. 3 out of 4 of them never report it to a manager, HR or anyone else. Imagine a world where every woman is treated with the respect and dignity she deserves. Unfortunately,...

How Companies Can Support Single Parents

Single parents face increased pressure as they balance full-time employment with the responsibility of caring for their children. This heightened pressure comes from various factors, such as economic challenges, limited support systems, and the need to provide for...

Why Your Reward System For Employees Can Fail Badly

Last week marked the celebration of Employee Appreciation Day! During this special time, many companies express their gratitude to their workforce, and one common way they do it is by giving out rewards.  Reward systems are a crucial aspect of employee motivation and...

Can a Wage Increase Make Employees More Productive?

In California, the upcoming minimum wage boost for fast food workers to $20 starting April 1st has ignited discussions about its potential influence on worker productivity.  Currently, the median hourly wage for fast-food workers in the U.S. is $13.43, while in...

Why Every Leader Needs to Worry About Toxic Work Culture

Employees quit their jobs for different reasons, and a major one is because of a toxic workplace environment. In fact, researchers discovered that between April and September 2021, toxic culture was the main reason why employees decided to leave their jobs. A toxic...

Civility Partners at 15 Years!

2024 marks an incredible milestone for us—our 15th-anniversary celebration! Yes, you read that right—15 years of making a positive impact on over 270 organizations served, thousands of employees, and millions of people worldwide! Thanks to the vision of our founder...

Driving Organizational Success Through Behavior Change

How can you make your workplace more exciting and successful?  Organizational success is not solely dependent on strategies or cutting-edge technologies. Instead, the key driver of success lies within the organization itself—specifically, within the collective...

How Much is Your Culture Costing You?

Creating a positive workplace culture isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a key player in the success of any business. It goes beyond token gestures like wellness days and promotions; it's fundamentally about how you treat your people, the support you extend to your team,...

Are you bamboozled by your company’s culture?

Your first day at a new job is a lot like embarking on an adventure. You step through the doors, eager and optimistic, your mind filled with expectations set by the promises of the company’s values and mission. For some, these principles are more than just words on a...