Employment law

Employers must clearly define harassment rules in light of Harvey Weinstein allegations

As allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein continue to emerge, employers may be considering revisiting workplace policies towards sexual harassment.

Head of advisory at Peninsula Law, Kate Palmer, offers her advice on what an effective anti-harassment policy should include.

Numerous women have come forward with explosive allegations of sexual harassment, and in some cases, assault, by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Oscar winners Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Mira Sorvino claimed that they were forced to rebuff Weinstein’s unwanted advances. Others alleged sexual assault.

This scandal has refocused our attention on sexual harassment as a number of allegations, ?unequivocal denials? and dismissals, employers may be assessing how to protect their business from the significant liability, and attention, that sexual harassment can bring.

Businesses must clearly and explicitly set out the rules on employee behaviour within the workplace and during events or occasions that are linked to employment.

Setting out what behaviour is prohibited in an anti-harassment policy will clarify what acts are classed as sexual harassment. This should include a non-exhaustive list to cover the variety of forms sexual harassment can take place including speech, touch, emails, other written communication and in-jokes or ?banter?.

In addition, the consequences for breaching the policy should also be set out as a deterrent to those who may carry out sexual harassment. This will also make it easier to take disciplinary action when required.

Training should be provided to all staff on acceptable conduct and how to raise a complaint of sexual harassment. This training should be provided early on in the induction process to ensure harassment is not taking place at any stage of employment.

Repeating the training periodically, or in response to any incidents, will reinforce the company?s stance against sexual harassment and reduce the possibility of future instances occurring.

Managers should also receive additional training on how to spot incidents at work, how to handle complaints received and how to make decisions without being influenced by sexual harassment issues.

How senior managers consider issues such as sexual harassment will often affect how these are perceived by the rest of the workforce so it?s vital they are properly trained to implement their employer?s zero tolerance stance.

One of the most worrying aspects for employers that has come out of this story, and others recently, has highlighted the dangers of a culture of silence; where those who were subject to the harassment, or knew about the allegations, but felt unable to raise their concerns.

Employers themselves are crucial towards creating a culture where employees feel they can raise concerns or complaints about incidents of sexual harassment.

One important step to cultivate this culture is to take each and every disclosure seriously, and not ignore any concerns or underestimate any incidents based on their own beliefs. A full investigation should be carried out in to every matter, with disciplinary action taken where necessary.

Having an allocated person to make complaints to will also encourage the disclosure of sexual harassment concerns. This is often a sensitive, fearful and worrying situation for individuals to be in, and having a named person to talk to will often remove any uncertainty, or worries, about raising concerns.

The allocated person should receive training on how to handle these difficult conversations to ensure they are responding in a sensitive and constructive manner. The process for passing on these concerns to those who will investigate should also be set out for the allocated individual.

Kate Palmer is Head of Advisory at Peninsula

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