7 Important Harassment Prevention Tips
1. Don’t play “Philadelphia lawyer.” In other words, don’t get too clever and box yourself in by deciding that you have to make a fool-proof case that Clyde has committed acts of illegal harassment. If you have clear evidence that Clyde is an abusive and obnoxious member of your team, why is he still there? Get rid of him because he is unprofessional.
2. Don’t think things will get better or the matter will sort itself out. They won’t and it won’t. Take prompt corrective action.
3. Don’t disregard a complaint because the complainer is a poor employee. Even poor employees deserve to be protected against harassment and sainthood is not a prerequisite to filing a lawsuit.
4. Don’t rush to judgment. Not every complaint is valid. Have an investigation that is prompt, thorough, and impartial and take appropriate action based on the evidence.
5. Don’t wait for a formal complaint before taking action. If you learn of a problem, you have the duty to act in a manner that is reasonably calculated to prevent harassment. Be especially wary of putting the burden on the victim to speak up. The victim may be intimidated or may feel you already know of the problem and are indifferent.
6. Don’t disregard “he said, she said” cases. There are many cases in which additional evidence may tip the scale or one side may simply be more credible than the other.
7. Consult with your organization’s attorney immediately. Don’t take action and then consult. Get the attorney involved from the start.
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