Introduction

Unfortunately, in the corporate workplace, 75% of workplace sexual harassment goes unidentified and 39% of employees don’t believe their concern will be addressed. This webinar will help you understand your rights, and make careful, best practice decisions about how to get appropriate help, and perhaps even file a claim.

The US Equal Opportunity and Employment Commission defines sexual harassment in the terms below: 

• It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person's sex. Harassment can include "sexual harassment" or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
• Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person's sex. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general.
• Both target and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex. Retaliation for reporting unwanted behavior is also against the law. 
• The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.

Even with theses guidelines, sexual harassment maybe difficult to discuss, document and report. 

Areas Covered In The Webinar

In this safe, supportive and interactive workshop, lead by a trained counselor and former HR leader, participants will raise their awareness of what constitutes sexual harassment, understand their rights, and become more empowered to take a stand and manage unwanted behavior. 

We will discuss:

• What constitutes sexual harassment and sexual misconduct
• How to move from “victim” to “target” and get support 
• Understanding and Setting Your Own Boundaries
• Best Practice Models for Indicating the Behavior is Unwelcome
• How to help targets who are experiencing sexual harassment 
• Review the US government laws (EEOC) that protect targets 
• How to best address concerns in your organization given their policies 
• Resources for support: Legal, emotional, HR management, advocacy 

Why should you attend?

Unfortunately, in the corporate workplace, 75% of workplace sexual harassment goes unidentified and 39% of employees don’t believe their concern will be addressed. Many of the people doing the harassment are in positions of power, therefore making taking action harder. This leaves the people who have been harassed feeling anxious, isolated, diminished, and not sure about the best next steps to take. Targets may experience both physical (headaches, stomachaches, insomnia etc) as well as fear, self-blame, self-doubt, depression and withdrawal. 

However, there are powerful steps employees and leaders can take to moderate and diminish unwanted behavior. We will discuss employee’s rights and offer best practices for helping both sexual harassment targets and attackers, and how to create an engaging environment where people know what is acceptable and not acceptable.

Between 2018-2021, US companies paid out $299.8 M in sexual harassment cases, benefitting 8,147 employees. Proper training and monitoring of employ’s activities can save costly legal fees, strengthen company moral and reputation, and create a safe and more productive work environment. 

Who Will Benefit

Anyone who is or has experienced first or second-hand sexual harassment, or has a desire to help targets in their organization, and/or help their workplace be more supportive for targets of sexual harassment.

This course can serve as an overview of US sexual harassment policies and prevention, therefore it is appropriate for new hire as well as existing employee training.