How to handle an employee complaint of harassment?
An effective harassment policy must tell employees how and where to report harassment. You should always choose more than one person to take complaints, to accommodate employees who may have a complaint against one of the people designated or who simply don’t feel comfortable with one of them.
What happens if you file a complaint against a harasser?
Worse, if too many details about the complaint are leaked, you may be accused of damaging the reputation of the alleged victim or alleged harasser — and get slapped with a defamation lawsuit. Avoid these problems by insisting on confidentiality and practicing it in your investigation.
What should I do if someone is harassing me?
In some cases, a suspension, a warning, or counseling may be adequate. In other circumstances, when the actions of the accused involved threatening behavior or violence like rape, unwanted touching, or stalking, termination may be the most appropriate disciplinary action.
What should you do if someone complains about discrimination at work?
If you allow yourself to become angry at the employee, you open yourself up to claims of illegal retaliation (see next tip, below). You also run the risk of polarizing your workplace, damaging morale, and lowering productivity. Don’t retaliate. It is against the law to punish someone for complaining about discrimination or harassment.
An effective harassment policy must tell employees how and where to report harassment. You should always choose more than one person to take complaints, to accommodate employees who may have a complaint against one of the people designated or who simply don’t feel comfortable with one of them.
When to report sexual harassment in the workplace?
You may become aware of a sexual harassment or other discrimination complaint from a variety of sources within the workplace. These sources can include gossip, hearsay, rumors, or a story from an alleged victim’s concerned coworker or friend. Your obligation to report any reasonably valid complaint remains the same.
Worse, if too many details about the complaint are leaked, you may be accused of damaging the reputation of the alleged victim or alleged harasser — and get slapped with a defamation lawsuit. Avoid these problems by insisting on confidentiality and practicing it in your investigation.
Is it illegal to harass someone in the workplace?
Unlawful harassment may occur without economic injury to, or discharge of, the victim. Prevention is the best tool to eliminate harassment in the workplace. Employers are encouraged to take appropriate steps to prevent and correct unlawful harassment.