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Hidden Impact of Harassment

· Communication,Conflict,Obstacles,Harassment,Training

Often when a high-profile harassment case impacts a workplace, it leads managers and executives to review their HR policies to ensure that they have everything in place to document a hassle-free workplace. Legal defense is crucial but the greater issue is that there may be a culture where discrimination may be enabled. Only a small percentage of harassment charges ever lead to administrative findings and action; a fraction of those are settled, many dismissed, and others withdrawn.

Regardless, both investigations and settlements cost time and money. Any organization must consider the cost of operating a business on a daily basis hoping that processes and structure are there to eliminate waste and inefficiency. Sometimes neglecting significant and easily erasable costs that will materialize should there be either an investigation or a lawsuit.

These circumstances will drain productivity of the harassed, the accused and possibly others around them who are not coming forward. Statistics show that not all the victims come forward for fear of repercussions. This is just as true with a workforce of 10,000 as it is with one with only 100 or just 10.

Our program Sexual Harassment: In the Wake of #MeToo helps individuals gain a greater understanding of identifying, understanding, preventing, and reporting harassment behavior should it occur in the workplace.

"If you see harassment happening, speak up. Being harassed is terrible; having by-standers pretend they don't notice is infinitely worse." - Celeste Ng