Preventing Workplace Harassment Training

Nilka Smith

University of Phoenix Online

EDTC 560 – Internet & Distance Education Delivery

Janet Wright - Facilitator

April 21, 2004

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the session you should be able to :• Define sexual harassment• List different forms of discriminatory workplace

harassment• Describe the importance of prevention

What is Sexual Harassment?

Deliberate and/or repeated sexual behavior that is not welcome, and not asked for.

Forms of sexual harassment

• Physical - touching, pinching, and grabbing body parts

• Verbal - making sexual gestures, looks, jokes, or verbal comments - spreading sexual rumors or making sexual propositions

• Visual- sending sexual notes or pictures - writing sexual graffiti

Importance of Prevention

• a form of Discrimination• against the Law• against the Policies of most employers

Employees who engage in workplace harassment are typically subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

Discriminatory Workplace Harassment

• epithets• slurs• negative stereotyping• jokes and hostile acts

that relate to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.

Sexual harassment includes:

• unwelcome sexual advances• requests for sexual favors,• and other verbal or physical conduct of

a sexual nature.

Conduct that, depending on the circumstances, may not constitute sexual harassment include:

• Behavior that is not sexual in nature • Being rude, abrasive, or impolite• Isolated comments, remarks, jokes • Behavior that is welcomed by the recipient.

Examples of Sexual Harassment

• Physical contact such as petting, pinching or brushing against another person’s body

• Unwelcome, repeated requests for dates• E-mail, voicemail or internet sites that are

sexual in nature or sexually suggestive

Anyone of these individuals can be a harasser.

Racial and religious harassment cases:

• can be and are brought by employees of any race or religion.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

WOMEN

Harassed bysupervisor

Harassed bya senioremployee

Harassed bycoworker

Harassed byjunioremployee

Telephone Survey- Based on 782 workers

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10

20

30

40

50

60

MEN

Harassedat work

Harasserwas awoman

Harasserwas aman

More and more sexual harassment cases are being brought by men alleging harassment by women and by employees alleging sexual harassment by someone of the same sex.

Lessons Learned

• what legally constitutes sexual harassment • inappropriate behavior in the workplace • guidelines for appropriate behavior around

jokes, language and e-mail.

Let’s not forget:Understanding the law is important to

you. Understanding yourself is critical to being effective and succeeding in your

work environment