In our Sexual Harassment Awareness training seminars your employees will learn and apply the important skills of handling sexual harassment issues and complaints. This hands on seminar thoroughly addresses the elements of how to prevent unacceptable behavior. The seminar includes a detailed overview of what sexual harassment is, explains legal definitions, discusses sexual harassment prevention, and shows how to handle sexual harassment complaints and maintain a positive work environment.

For more information about individual sexual harassment training seminars please complete this form.  Once the form is received one of our consultants will provide you with a confidential proposal that will include a detailed description of the training seminar and the costs for conducting it. 

Sexual Harassment Training: Why Your Company Needs a Sexual Harassment Training Seminar

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome advances, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, seeking sexual favors, or inappropriate sexual interference of a person's workplace or work performance.

What Law Says

Legally, sexual harassment is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - it is a form of a sexual discrimination. The act applies to a workplace where more than 15 employees work; this includes local, state, and federal workplaces as well as private sector businesses.

Part of doing business in civilized society requires that all employees have an understanding of responsibility in regards to appropriate behavior in the workplace. Harassment of a sexual nature can be curbed substantially-if not entirely eliminated-from the workplace by having complete and adequate knowledge and sexual harassment training.

Statistics Speak

Statistically, in 2007, 12,510 cases were registered, which resulted in $49.9 million dollars monetary benefits (not including monetary benefits obtained through litigation), according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Researchers have proven that organizations who participate in the sexual harassment training and seminars have a low ratio of the harassment cases as compared to those who do not conduct the harassment training.

In 2007, according to the EEOC, more than 80% who filed lawsuits were from women. This shows that women are more vulnerable as potential victims of the harassment. Men are also subject to a harassment of a sexual nature, usually, by a female superior, but this is not as common of an occurrence. Regardless of the gender of a victim, it is safe to say that if an employee does not feel comfortable as a result of a harassment of a sexual nature, he/she is likely to leave the job and/or file suit against the employer. In the end, it is both the employee and employer who lose.

Vicarious Liability Rule

Harassment by supervisors based on color, race, sex (regardless of its sexual nature), national origin, age, disability, religion, or protected activity come under the vicarious liability rule. Under this rule, employers can be held for what his subordinate did.

Significance of a Sexual harassment Training Seminar

Harassment of a sexual nature is an unethical and illegal act in all types of industries/institutions. Employers are held for their subordinates' actions. Records show that employers had to bear heavy financial as well reputation losses in the past.

Hence, it is imperative to understand the importance of the sexual harassment training. Employers should prepare (a written document) and communicate anti-harassment policies and complaint procedures of all types of illegal harassment to all employees. The policy should identify at least two or more individuals where any harassment complaint can be submitted.

Employers should ensure that every employee is aware of the sexual harassment policy; they should arrange a sexual harassment training seminar for the company, and sexual harassment training sessions for his/her employees.

If an employer establishes the harassment policy as per the standards, convey the policy to all employees properly regardless of their designations, and arrange seminars and sexual harassment training sessions, the ball is in the employer's court in the event of a harassment lawsuit.

In a nutshell, sexual harassment training plays a pivotal role in preventing this type of harassment incidences in all types of organizations, as well as providing an environment of protection for the company and the victim. Ignoring the importance of the harassment training could lead an employer to financial as well as reputation losses.

Source: Syed Rehan link