6 Ways to Prevent Workplace Harassment

Workplace harassment is one of the most important issues businesses need to address. Without a proper approach to managing this problem, the work environment will be toxic. Employees will be unhappy and unproductive. This also affects the reputation of the business, and at the end of the day, its bottom line. This article will talk about some of the best ways to prevent workplace harassment.

1. Provide Proper Training

Equip employees with the right knowledge and skills to prevent workplace harassment. Regular and comprehensive training programs will let people understand the extent of the problem and the specific steps that should be undertaken to make sure that there is no room for harassment. To make harassment training effective, consider microlearning as an alternative to traditional classroom training. This will make the training materials accessible anytime and anywhere, which can also improve engagement.

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2. Hire the Right People

Prevention of harassment training starts with hiring the right employee. Your business needs to have a robust hiring strategy. From personality tests to criminal backgrounds, thoroughly scrutinize every qualified candidate. Make sure to hire someone who is not going to be a threat to the workplace.

3. Communicate the Policies

Proper communication is also crucial in the prevention of workplace harassment. There should be clear policies and they should be properly communicated to all members of the organization from the top to the bottom. The policies should be stipulated in a handbook or in any other document that employees can access.

4. Act Immediately

Justice delayed is justice denied. This is applicable even in the case of workplace harassment. The failure of the management to act immediately can make employees lose hope. As soon as a report has been made, the management should act swiftly. If there is a valid reason, the person accused of harassment should be suspended from work.

5. Encourage Employees to Speak Up

Provide means for employees to speak up and show them that you are not tolerating harassment in the workplace. Create an effective reporting or complaint system. There should be someone responsible for receiving and investigating reports. Make it easy for the employee to report any form of harassment without fear of being judged.

6. Create a Non-Intimidating Environment

Intimidation is one of the reasons why many cases of workplace harassment go unreported. To minimize cases of harassment in the organization, the employees should not feel intimidated, especially when they are reporting their superior. They must not be scared to stand up and defend themselves.

The burden of the prevention of workplace harassment in the workplace lies on the employer. A proactive approach is necessary to curb the problem, which should include strategies like employee training, robust hiring, and encouraging employees to speak up, among other things.