Might A "Climate Survey" Also Deter Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
A what? What might a climate survey be?
I have written a veritable tome about steps to take to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
We've talked about having a clear, zero-tolerance policy, disseminating said policy to all employees, including the C-suite, and ensuring that said policy is understood by one and all.
We've written about the significance of reporting any unlawful harassment by men and women—a “say something if you see something” mentality.
Moreover, companies must convey, by their policies and practices, that their company prohibits retaliation for reporting sexual harassment or discrimination, and, critically, a "top-down" anti-harassment culture should prevail to maintain a respectful atmosphere in the workplace.
But, here's a new one: a climate survey. This Forbes article espouses the idea, gleaned from results of a two-year study by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), that:
“Creating a climate that prevents sexual harassment requires first having a clear understanding of the existing climate and tracking it over time.” In other words, they’re suggesting that organizations should be aware of the current state of sexual harassment in their organization. Is there harassment in the organization, and, if so, what type? This solution is easily implementable and in its simplest form would merely involve surveying employees on a regular basis and asking them if they experienced or witnessed a checklist of behaviors.
This type of survey would accomplish two things: first, it would give an organization a clear idea of what its employees really think of the workplace culture; and, second, it would enable a company to tailor responses to the survey based on the specific issues revealed.
I have my own thoughts about this, but tell me, in comments to this post, private messaging, or otherwise, do you think a climate survey would help deter sexual harassment in the workplace?
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6 年Thanks for the shout out, Judi Murphy! While surveys do not typically deter any behavior, a well-implemented climate survey can expose problem or opportunity. Courts and employees are seeking reasonable care to anti-harassment; therefore it entirely depends upon what the employer does with the info. Awareness is likely increased by survey. Employees will talk. Employer response needs to be effective and proportionate. I am passionate about our extraordinary well-proven solutions in this arena!
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6 年Jessica Ollenburg?
Finding Money in Complex Fraud Investigations
6 年I'm not sure if it would deter bad behavior, but at the very least, it would inform management. I like that.
But what about risk and exposure if the results are leaked? What if corrective steps aren't taken completely or quickly enough?
You know the scientist dork in the action movie, the one the government ignores? This employment lawyer helps proactive companies avoid the action sequence.
6 年A climate survey creates awareness on both ends. That is, it also lets employees know what the company is interested in addresses a potential workplace problem.