When it comes to workplace sexual harassment, many factors can lead to this problem. It can happen anywhere from the office to the factory floor.
The most common type of sexual harassment people experience at work is quid pro quo which involves offering an employee something in exchange for a sexual favor. Another instance might be making unwanted comments about someone’s body or appearance, which makes them uncomfortable.
The law requires employers to provide two hours of interactive sexual harassment training in California every two years for all supervisory employees who work in California. Employers can avoid going against the law by providing regular training and sessions to address workplace harassment.
Also, educating your staff on subjects like this is one way to build a healthy working environment. You will find other reasons to organize this training and the dangers of workplace sexual harassment below.
5 Reasons Why You Should Train Your Employees on Sexual Harassment
If you are an employer, you must provide this training within one year of hiring your employee or five years after they became an employee. Below are a few reasons why this is necessary:
It Empowers Your Employees to Handle Such Situations
Sexual abuse in the workplace is one of the reasons people leave their jobs. This can be emotionally stressful, especially if you are an employee subjected to this kind of treatment at work.
However, there are ways to combat sexual harassment in your office and ensure that this doesn’t happen again. One way is through programs that educate employees on how to recognize the signs of this kind of abuse in the workplace. These programs will teach what types of behavior qualify as undesirable behavior according to federal law. You can click on https://www.thebalancecareers.com/ to read more about examples of sexual and nonsexual workplace behaviors.
It is Illegal not to Train Your Staff
It is illegal if you don’t provide sexual harassment training for your employees.
You can be fined up to $10,000 for failing to provide this training. Also, you will pay more for damages if an employee sues you.
It Helps Reduce Lawsuits Related to Sexual Harassment
Several employees do not know that certain behaviors can be considered sexual harassment and how they should report this kind of behavior. Because of this, they might make wrong decisions that will affect your company.
A better way to reduce lawsuits related to this abuse is by providing this training for your employees. It will help the victim and the employee reporting it to learn more about what constitutes a form of discrimination based on gender identity.
It has a Positive Impact on Employee Performance
Sexual harassment training in workplaces has a good effect on employee performance, resulting in a more productive workplace with less discrimination, bullying, and crime. They are also helpful for employees who want to understand what behaviors are considered sexual harassment.
You can organize this by hiring an experienced trainer or through online content accessible from anywhere at any time.
Employees that participate in this program report higher morale and better relationships with their co-workers. They also recognize the importance of being respectful towards everyone they work around – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or other factors that can contribute to discriminatory behavior.
Employee Turnover is Expensive and Wasting Money can Affect Your Business
A recent study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that turnover rates have increased among employers and employees. The cost of having an employee replace another employee averages over $8,000 and costs 33 percent of that worker’s annual salary, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). You can click here to read more about the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
So, if you have a high turnover rate, you will be wasting money on training new hires. In addition to losing valuable skillsets from your team members through constant turnover, it will also affect how well your business runs.
3 Dangers of sexual harassment in the workplace
Below are a few disadvantages of not providing sexual harassment training.
- It can lead to high turnover rates. This is because people do not like to be in an environment where they are uncomfortable. Therefore, they leave for a safer environment.
- It can lead to a decrease in productivity. Sex abuse can prevent an employee from focusing, leading to poor production and output.
- It can destroy your company’s reputation. If employees do not have the training to handle abuse cases, it can become a worse case for the company. For instance, if an employee files a lawsuit against a company, it creates a scandal.
Conclusion
Sexual abuse in the workplace is a serious problem that can lead to high turnover and decreased profits. It also causes employees to feel unsafe at work and be less productive. There are also not enough regulators to handle all the cases. So workplaces should train managers to recognize sexual harassment and teach employees what to do in those situations.
The most common form of abuse is when men treat women differently because of their gender. This could include making unwanted comments about someone’s body or appearance, which makes them uncomfortable. It also includes making sexual jokes and asking questions about someone’s sex life.