Sexual harassment is a pervasive problem nationwide, and it happens in every industry. In the wake of the #metoo movement, employees have become more aware of their rights when it comes to sexual harassment in the workplace, and many workers have also become less afraid to exercise them.
What does this mean for you as an employer? It means that it is now more important than ever to train members of your workforce about how to prevent sexual harassment in your place of business. Doing so may bring with it the following benefits.
It may help your business avoid litigation
According to the Safe Institute, the number of complaints filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission doubled in 2018 following the #metoo movement. The year prior, U.S. employers paid out $47.5 million in monetary damages, but in 2018, this figure rose to $70 million.
It may improve workforce morale
Offering sexual harassment prevention training shows your workers that you are aware of the issue and care enough to address it. Sexual harassment has the potential to impact the mental and physical health of your workers, and the impacts often compound in settings where this type of behavior is commonplace.
It may help protect your reputation
Many workers who experience sexual harassment at work never come forward. Instead, they may leave a company, rather than call attention to the behavior before doing so, leading to high turnover and time wasted training new workers. In some cases, those workers then use online channels to discuss what occurred, which may damage your business’s reputation and make it appear as if it tolerates sexual harassment.