SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION

Sexual Harassment is a widespread problem that can cause low morale and productivity for employers and unions, in addition to introducing the added concern of expensive lawsuits. Working Woman magazine reported that sexual harassment costs the typical Fortune 500 company $6.7 million per year in absenteeism, employee turnover, low morale and low productivity. No workplace is immune from sexual harassment.

Perhaps nowhere is sexual harassment a bigger problem for women than in the skilled trades and technical jobs because sexual harassment in these environments can be both physically and emotionally dangerous for the women. Women of color are particularly vulnerable because of stereotypes based on gender and race, and because they are often in the weakest economic position. Tradeswomen are harassed about their sexual orientation, whether or not they are lesbian, and lesbian tradeswomen often face a very hostile work environment.

Actively preventing sexual harassment can ensure the workplace promotes an open, supportive environment with higher morale and productivity, and can reduce the likelihood of expensive lawsuits.

Because of the sensitive, personal nature of sexual harassment and the rhetoric surrounding it, taking measures to prevent sexual harassment is challenging, but not impossible. Drawing on the experiences of employers and unions across the country, Workplace Solutions is designed to assist you in developing a comprehensive action plan to address sexual harassment in your workplace.

• Send a top-down message to employees and union members that sexual harassment will not be tolerated.
• Create a strong written policy prohibiting illegal discrimination against any employee that specifically addresses sexual harassment as prohibited conduct and describes steps to be taken if harassment occurs.
• Implement formal and informal problem solving mechanisms, grievance procedures, investigative measures, and disciplinary procedures to resolve sexual harassment complaints.
• Conduct awareness trainings regularly for supervisors to review organizational policy, build problem-solving skills, review relevant law, and discuss their responsibility to create a harassment-free workplace.
• Provide ongoing sexual harassment awareness training for every level of employee or union member.
• Assess the work environment for awareness by surveying employees and union members about sexual harassment.

• Assess your current sexual harassment prevention strategies in the Issue Self-Assessment Quiz.
• Request help to implement sexual harassment prevention strategies identified in the Issue Self-Assessment Quiz.
• Ask additional questions on preventing sexual harassment of women in Ask A Question
• Search our Resource Database for People and Documents that can help you prevent sexual harassment of women in your nontraditional occupations and apprenticeships.
• Share your experience in sexual harassment prevention with other employers and unions by posting news to the Workplace Discussion Forum.

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