Harassment Prevention

Teaching “TRUST” in Harassment Prevention Training

Our harassment prevention programs are unique in a variety of ways. While our courses teach managers, supervisors and employees what the courts mean when they talk about “workplace harassment,” we also teach that the most important concept for everyone to understand is the employer’s policy prohibiting workplace harassment.

The law focuses on preventing demeaning, degrading, humiliating behavior that is extremely serious in nature or that is part of an on-going pattern of behavior. A good company policy focuses on creating a positive workplace environment. And when the company policy is understood and when everyone in the workplace knows how to put that policy into effect, then the potential for workplace harassment is virtually non-existent.

People who have had workplace harassment prevention training classes before walk out of our class saying, “Wow, this was the best, the most interesting and engaging class on this subject I have ever had! I really get it now and I see how to deal with potentially difficult situations for the first time!”

Training Courses

The prevention of workplace harassment is an integral part of our foundation course: TRUST: The Art & Science of Creating Trusting Relationships. We also provide custom designed harassment prevention courses for managers and supervisors and for employees. Following is a description of these courses.

Harassment Prevention for Managers & Supervisors (½-day class)

This class provides managers and supervisors with an understanding of what causes harassment in the workplace and how to effectively deal with potentially harassing behavior. A brief explanation of the law of harassment is provided so that the participants can recognize the kinds of behavior that the courts recognize as illegal harassment. The course also incorporates the employer’s policy on harassment prevention and provides managers and supervisors a simple means for understanding the differences between the employer’s policy and the legal prohibitions. Participants are provided an opportunity to practice the skills necessary to creating a respectful, harassment-free work environment. This class differs from the class for employees in two respects. First, this class spends time reviewing the legal basis for liability for employers. Our purpose in this discussion is to make managers and supervisors aware of their critical role in taking action to resolve potential harassing situations at the earliest possible time in order to avoid possible legal liability for the employer. Second, this class provides participants with practical skills in dealing with potentially harassing situations so that they understand how to resolve these issues quickly and effectively. This class meets the requirements for training supervisors in harassment prevention in California and other jurisdictions with similar requirements.

Harassment Prevention for Employees (½-day class)

This class provides employees with an understanding of what causes harassment in the workplace and how to effectively deal with potentially harassing behavior. A brief explanation of the law of harassment is provided so that the participants can recognize the kinds of behavior that the courts recognize as illegal harassment. The course also incorporates the employer’s policy on harassment prevention and provides employees a simple means for understanding the differences between the employer’s policy and the legal prohibitions. Participants are provided an opportunity to practice the skills necessary to creating a respectful, harassment-free work environment. This class differs from the class for managers and supervisors in that it allows the participants to explore self-help means that can be used to effectively address minor incidents that could cause embarrassment or offense so that matters are immediately resolved between co-workers without necessarily involving a manager or supervisor. The employer’s process for reporting and addressing harassment allegations is also reviewed for participants.