6 Steps to Preventing Workplace Harassment

A multi-prong approach is necessary to effectively prevent workplace harassment. Follow these six steps to create a more respectful work culture. 

1. Improve Awareness 
Employees may not fully understand what constitutes harassment and be unaware of subtle or indirect forms of misconduct. 

Solution: Ongoing training helps raise employee and manager awareness about the physical, verbal and visual types of harassment and how to respond to harassers as targets or bystanders. Nuanced scenarios delving into “gray areas” helps a workforce better understand what is and isn’t acceptable behavior. 

2. Implement Effective Reporting Mechanisms 
Inadequate reporting mechanisms or unclear procedures can hinder employees from reporting incidents. 

Solution: Organizations should adopt easily accessible and well-publicized reporting channels, and provide multiple reporting options, such as anonymous reporting, to make it easier for employees to come forward.  

3. Prevent Retaliation 
Employees may fear retaliation if they report harassment, which can deter them from coming forward. 

Solution: Establishing a confidential reporting system and an anti-retaliation policy helps protect employees from retribution and promotes a culture of trust that encourages individuals to report incidents without fear. 

4. Train All Employees Regardless of Location 
Insufficient or infrequent training on harassment leaves employees uninformed. 

Solution: All employees, regardless of where they are located, should receive ongoing, comprehensive harassment training — not just those in states that legally require it. This includes choosing training that is accessible to employees with disabilities to create a company-wide culture of respect. 

5. Address Industry and Global Environments 
Organizations often face challenges in addressing industry scenarios and global legal frameworks related to harassment. 

Solution: Tailor training and policies to account for nuances of specific workplace environments and local laws to make training relevant and memorable for employees and managers. 

6. Enforce a Zero Tolerance Policy 
Inconsistent or inadequate consequences for perpetrators can undermine the effectiveness of anti-harassment policies. 

Solution: Organizations should enforce strict consequences for harassment, ensuring that investigations are thorough and fair. 

Need Expert Harassment Prevention Training? 

Traliant’s Preventing Workplace Harassment Training: 2024 Edition is 50-state compliant and vetted by our in-house legal experts. Three engaging courses meet all state and local training requirements, and training is updated yearly so employees and managers never have to watch reruns.