The setting up of a complaints committee and an anti-sexual harassment policy lays a strong foundation for a sexual harassment-free workplace. However, effective training programs are essential to sensitize/train all their staff members, men and women, to recognize sexual harassment, deal with it when it occurs and prevent it.
The training program is the best way to ensure proper understanding and implementation of your policy. It is the best forum to communicate to employees what behaviour is acceptable and what is not, in a non-threatening atmosphere of mutual learning.
Conduct yearly meetings with your supervisors to review the sexual harassment policy, and to make sure that they understand that an employee does not need to suffer negative consequences in order to make a complaint of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment training for all employees should address perceptions and understanding of sexual harassment, the impact of sexual harassment on individuals and the workplace, understanding the policy and complaints mechanism. The training for Complaints Committee should address, in addition to these, the procedures of investigation, skills necessary for inquiries, documenting the procedures.
