An employee has a legal right pertaining to Sexual harassment or sexual misconduct. When an employee complains about sexual misconduct the employer needs to use all the right channels to investigate and find out about the claims thoroughly. The employer, in this case, has no authority whatsoever to make conclusions on his/her own.
How to Handle Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
The first thing you need to do as an organisation you need to inform all your employees that such characteristics are prohibited and can never be tolerated in the workplace. This will help you handle the issue with ease. This means that as an employer you need to have a policy that is related to sexual misconduct and inform your employees that in case any arises it must be investigated. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination and needs to be treated seriously.
You also need to provide your employees with different ways in which they can handle such cases formally. Employees can be directed to report such complaints either to the CEO, the manager the HR or both. Such ways will help you as an employee handle sexual misconduct complaints professionally without interference.
Appoint one staff from your organisation and assign him with the responsibility of owning such complaints. The staff needs to be knowledgeable about the history of the organisation and its take on sexual misconduct characters.
After all these, always come up with a plan on how you can handle such complaints. For instance, you can pick a few individuals from the workplace who can help you investigate the whole issue from the initial complaint. As an employer remember to get all the necessary information from the employee.
The last next step is to assure the person who was complaining that everything else has been filed and investigations are underway. Also, assure him that such acts will not be tolerated at the workplace and ask them to be patient as the investigations are ongoing. It is also important to assure the complaint that the issue will be handled fairly and just. This is the last step, as the employer takes every piece of information that you have received in relation to the complaints and makes decisions.
You can consult with the HR, CEO or HR in making the decision in relation to the information you have. After that it is necessary to consult with the relevant authorities this may including a solicitor, just to make sure that you are handling the whole issue fairly in relation to the information you have gathered.
In conclusion, remember the attorney must support the direction you are taking as an organisation.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for information purposes only and should not be relied upon as formal legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article. Specific legal advice should be sort tailored to the individual circumstances in all cases.
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