Leading the Change - Employers! Take Action to End Sexual Harassment in the Workplace!

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, a time to focus on the ongoing issue of sexual harassment in our workplaces. As an employer or organizational leader, you have a critical role to play in creating a safe and inclusive working environment for your employees.

Sexual harassment is an unacceptable behavior that not only impacts employee well-being but can also damage workplace morale, productivity, and reputation. As such, it's essential to take steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. Here is what most organizations will have:

1. Clear anti-harassment policies - Establish and communicate a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. Ensure all employees know what behaviors constitute sexual harassment and what the consequences are.

2. Provide training - Educate employees on what constitutes sexual harassment, how to report it, and what steps will be taken to address it. It will help prevent sexual harassment from happening in the first place and ensure that employees understand the seriousness of the issue.

While "anti-harassment policies" and "training" are necessary, do they really work? As I did some research I found that there are studies that suggest that anti-harassment policies and training greatly reduce the occurrence of sexual harassment in workplaces. For example, according to a study by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), organizations with clear anti-harassment policies in place see 28 percent fewer harassment claims than those without such policies.

Moreover, a study conducted by the Harvard Business Review found that organizations with effective anti-harassment training programs see a 75 percent reduction in sexual harassment reports.

These studies suggest that anti-harassment policies and training are essential in preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. However, it's worth noting that while these policies and training programs can reduce harassment "reported" incidents, they can't guarantee that sexual harassment will never occur AND these numbers aren't really accurate because there are SO MANY more cases that go "unreported".

As a Grief and healing Coach, I have had many clients and know many others such as friends and family that have experienced a form of sexual harassment at work but don't report it for fear of retaliation, being judged and overall safety and security of themselves and their families. And these are just some of the reasons they don't report it.

It's important for employers to create a culture of respect and inclusivity, where all employees feel safe and valued to truly prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

As leaders, set the tone for the organization. Ensure that you are modeling respectful behavior towards all employees, including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups.

Create a culture of inclusivity and respect. Encourage open communication, employee feedback, and active listening to ensure every employee feels heard and valued.

Be compassionate. Sexual harassment can be an emotional experience for victims. As employers, it's crucial to be compassionate and understanding when dealing with these situations. It's important to remember that compassion and empathy go a long way in creating a safe and inclusive workplace.

BELIEVE your employees that report they are being harassed. NOT everything can be "proven" if no one saw what happened. This doesn't mean it didn't happen. Every situation will be different. As leaders it's important to treat each case individually and ensure your employees FEEL SAFE in their work environment after a sexual harassment incident regardless of what you can prove.

This is a very sensitive and in many cases "uncomfortable" subject to talk about and to address. Be the leader that steps forward even if it's uncomfortable. Be the leader that creates a SAFE and INCLUSIVE culture in all ways so that Sexual Harassment CANNOT thrive in your organization. Be the leader that believes victims of sexual harassment in your workplace.

I'm always open to have conversations on this topic and help leaders create a plan that works! Direct Message me and together let's stop the violence!