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3 Cards in this Set
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Your roles as a manager. |
As a manager, there are some situations in the company you should keep your eye on and deal with promptly to help prevent situations from escalating into harassment complaint. One of the most important prevention strategies is for managers to carefully monitor their workplace.
Protecting your yourself Minimizing your risk. There are many things you can do to reduce your risk of being harassed. Often times, harassment is the result of unclear boundaries, mixed signal and lack of communication. As Dr. Peter Rutter says. You cannot judge unwelcome sexual harassment, without recognizing how you yourself as well as the people around you perceive and manage their sexual boundaries.
Key strategies 1. Stay professional in the office: wear appropriate clothing, don't touch your co workers, and don't tell sexual stories or joke. Set a boundary around yourself that you and others will respect. 2. Identify your fantasies: let's say you are attracted to your administrative assistant. As long as you are aware of that fantasy, and the potential problem it could cause, you can make an extra effort to be professional and not send off mixed signals. Above all, don't share your fantasies in the workplace.
3. Take care of yourself: make sure you are healthy both mentally and physically. Often, people who lack social support systems turn to work colleagues as a source of emotional support and sometimes sexual interaction. This is a plan for disaster.
4. Learn to recognize what is unwelcome and inappropriate. Pay attention to people's verbal and non verbal cues. Know when to back off. Know the rules of your organisation.
5. Have common sense. : Before you speak think, "is this really appropriate for the work place?" We are not saying that you censor yourself to the point of mute, but make that extra effort to think before you speak.
6. Apologize : if you speak or behave in a way that is inappropriate. Apologize and make an effort to ensure that it doesn't happen again.
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What if it happens to me? |
What works and what doesn't ?
Strategies that don't work : if someone is harassing you, here are some things not to do.
1. Ignore or avoid the harasser: this is the approach many people take because they think it's the least harmful: it is usually more harmful. The victim suffers I'm silence and the problem doesn't get resolved. 2. Try to appease the harasser : some people will change their appearance or dress in an attempt to deflect attention from themselves or they may joke about the harassment. Neither approach works. 3. Comply with the aggressor : harassing is a power struggle. Once you give into one demand, they will push for more.
4. Aggression: cursing, yelling, or otherwise abusing your harasser doesn't resolve anything. It makes you look out of control and show the harasser that they do have power over over you. It can also put you at risk for violence. Strategies that do work Verbal confrontation is one of the strategies that has been proven to work. In most situations, try these seven part plan ( adapted from Dr Peter Rutter) .
1. Give verbal notice: tell the harasser that what they are doing is not accepted immediately in a calm unemotional tone of voice. A statement like " get your hands off my butt," is firm assertive rather than aggressive, and non negotiable. You should also start keeping a written records of events, time, date, and people who witnessed the event.
2. Give stronger warnings and notice that you will report the harasser: if the harasser continues his/her behaviour. Repeat the first step but make it stronger. Something like " I have already told you to stop touching me" If you don't stop I will report you for harassment.
3. Issue written warnings. Keep a record. Write the person an email or letter and send it to them. Make sure you don't threaten the harasser. Stay as unemotional as possible.
4. Make an informal harassment enquiry ; if you have been unable to deter your harasser, of you feel that there is the serious risk in confronting your harasser, ( such as being physically harmed or losing your job). Go to your manager, human resources department, or the company's harassment officer.
4. Make a formal complaint in the organisation: this step turns the complaint into a formal process. Both parties ( the complainant and the alleged harasser) have a lot at stake here. Their reputation, their job and possibly their career. If you have an event documented and recorded, you will feel a lot more secure in raising a formal complaint.
5. Make a formal complaint with the government. In most countries, there is an agency that governs against harassment and discrimination. You should consult with an attorney before filling a complaint with this organisation or agency.
6. Go to Court ; If your workplace and the governing agency have both been unable to resolve the issue to your satisfaction, the last recourse is harassment lawsuit. These are expensive, time consuming, and emotionally painful. Make sure you have exhausted all options before you take this step.
Saying No. We all have a tough time saying no occasionally. Sometimes, we are not sure how to say no even when we have been harassed or threatened.
There are three steps to good no * Stay calm: keep your hands at your sides. * Speak firmly but at a normal volume * Say no if possible, add the behaviour you want them to stop. But do not add feelings, justifications or padding
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What if it's happening to someone else? |
There will often be a situation when a manager will know that harassment has been going on but complaint has not been filed. An employee can go to the manager to inform that harassment has been going on but employee has decided not to file a complaint. The manager can even be hearing repeated gossip about harassment.
There are many reasons why a harassment victim may choose not to file a complaint. * They may be afraid of their harasser * They may be worried about career implications * Or they may worry about what their co-worker will think. * Perhaps they can't face the stress, or they are ashamed or embarrassed.
If a manager thinks or feels that harassment is going on, they are obligated to face it. Even if the only proof they have is rumour they must still investigate it.
Remember, it's always better to err on the side of caution. Turning a blind eye on a potential harassment problem can open up your company to lawsuits.
Someone Has Filed a complaint Against me ! If you are in a situation where someone has filed a complaint against you, do not panic. There are several steps that you can take to deal with the situation appropriately.
1. Get a lawyer: You need professional advice to help you determine what your workplace rights are and your legal rights. Seek out a lawyer who specialises in employment law or harassment law. Although this may require an initial investment of time and money, it will likely save you stress and headache.
2. True or false ? Take some time and think about the accusation against you. Most accusations has some grains of truth in them. The conflict lies in the interpretation of behaviour. Try to write down the events that may affect this case. Include the date, time, eye witnesses and description of the event.
3. Do not contact your accuser Never, ever speak to your accuser directly. This may make things much worse. You may be perceived as if you were trying to intimidate or silence him or her.
4. Use opportunity given to you. Do your best to be professional. Unemotional, non defensive, cooperative and rational during the process. If mediation is offered, accept it ( as long as your attorney think is appropriate and a good idea). Being angry and vindictive will not accomplish anything, and it may away the outcome against you.
5. Get Psychological Support. Being accused of harassment is not fun for anyone. Make sure you have a system of friends and family that knows what you are going through and who support you. You may also want to consider professional therapy to help you address this situation and the influence that led to it. For some people, a crisis like this forces them to address long standing issues and on the end, helps them improve their lives and themselves.
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