From Harvey Weinstein’s downfall to political storms at Westminster, sexual harassment at work is a topical subject. And if it affects you, it’s much more than just a news story.
The #Metoo campaign and a growing number of Whatsapp groups are giving voice to the people with something to say about feeling sexually harassed at work. What is your organisation doing to ensure your people feel safe and supported in their working environment? Organisations large and small have a duty to ensure their people are provided with the correct information, training and support.
When I was a student many years ago, I worked in a hotel bar and at a local sports club bar. What was thought of as ‘harmless banter’ then would today be regarded more severely. Although I took it all in the light-hearted way I believed it was intended, looking back now through more worldly-wise eyes and through the prism of today’s completely different mood, what I experienced back then was definitely unacceptable – although nothing like as terrible as some have had to endure.
One of the reasons this subject is currently being hotly debated is because whilst some aspects of sexual harassment are black and white, others fall into much greyer and nuanced areas of confusion. What is one person’s ‘bit of fun’ is another person’s flagrant abuse. People need to know how to behave – what is OK and what is not OK – and when it comes to sexual abuse at work, you need to ensure your people have clear, unambiguous guidelines.
The starting point for those guidelines is that sexual harassment is unwelcome. If someone tells you that what you are doing is unwelcome, that is precisely what it is – whatever your intentions. In our short video ‘What To Say When You Experience Sexual Harassment at Work’ we give people clear, straight-forward guidance and practical support on how to deal with unwanted sexual advances. At work, there is the added and sinister complication of power and authority overshadowing interactions between a manager and his or her subordinate. But whoever is responsible, male or female, manager or staff member, every person has a responsibility to understand that unwelcome sexual comment, innuendo or physical approach is sexual harassment and will be treated as such by your organisation.
Dealing with a claim of sexual harassment has to be one of the most difficult tasks for HR. Doing everything to prevent such situations arising in the first place has to be high on the list of priorities. And that means ensuring that all your people – whatever their gender – know how to behave at work and how to react if they experience any unwelcome sexual approaches. This video helps you to do that and should be on everybody’s watch list. It’s our ‘One to Watch’ for November.
See the video here. It’s just £199 + VAT to subscribe to this video to give everyone in your organisation online unlimited access for a whole year. It can be embedded into your existing online system if you wish, or streamed via our own platform. We can also host your own policy on sexual harassment alongside the video for your people to download alongside a written summary of the key points from the video. Call 01638 723590 or email video@scottbradbury.co.uk to find out more.
About WATCH & GO® videos
WATCH & GO® videos show people how to perform better at work by illustrating practical phrases and key behaviours in just a few minutes. There are around 60 titles, each dealing with a different management topic or ‘tricky’ situation. Learners simply ‘watch’ and ‘go’ to manage everyday situations at work. www.watchandgovideos.co.uk @WatchGoVideos video@scottbradbury.co.uk +44 (0)1638 723590