(Add to Favorites | View All Articles | Resource Directory)
|
|
|
Sexual Harassment - Its just not on!
Sexual Harassment is a disturbing part of employment life in the modern era and is unacceptable! From junior clerk to boardroom it continues on in its various guises from seemingly harmless fun to stalking. In most countries there is comprehensive legislation that clearly prohibits this form of behaviour and puts business and individuals on notice that sexual harassment will not be tolerated. In the past many female workers were intimidated by these behaviours however, this has changed dramatically with many standing up for their rights and drawing a line in the sand. Rightly so! However, be aware that sexual harassment has progressed to a genderless issue. In assisting business deal with sexual harassment it has been my experience that this type of behaviour is very damaging to the individual victim and the business. When someone complains to you that they are experiecing sexual harassment in the workplace it is important to ensure that the complaint is in writing and signed. It is equally important that you keep in mind that the person who is alledged to have engaged in sexual harassment has rights. It is important to keep in mind that it is not what you say or do that is the determinant of sexual harassment alone, rather, how the other person perceives your actions or comments is a critical factor in determining sexual harassment. What may seem innocent to you may in fact constitute sexual harassment to the other person. What is Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment happens if a person; subjects another person to an unsolicited act of physical intimacy; or makes an unsolicited demand or request (whether directly or by implication) for sexual favours from the other person; or makes a remark with sexual connotations relating to the other person; or engages in any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature to the other person AND the person engaging in the conduct described above does so with the intention of offending, humiliating or intimidating the other person; or in circumstances where a reasonable person would have anticipated the possibility that the other person would be offended, humiliated or intimidated by the conduct. Examples of sexual harassment are offensive "jokes" or comments about sex, sexual preference, physical appearance, displays of pictures, computer graphics or posters that are offensive or derogatory of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment includes communications modes such as email and at the extreme includes stalking. There are solutions and you are not alone ? Employment Contract ? Induction Process ? Policy Statement on Sexual Harassment ? Employee Training ? Grievance policy ? Acting confidentially, timely and impartially. ? Mediation Employers may be vicariously liable for the actions of their employees if they are unable to demonstrate that they took reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment including informing and training employees of unacceptable behaviours. Sexual harassment does not have a place in today's workplace. Do not 'sweep it under the carpet' or 'just put up with it' as silence may give the impression of tacit acceptance. There are serious legal penalties for those proven to have engaged in this conduct. Visit www.biz-momentum.com for more information. Philip Lye is Director of Biz Momentum Pty Ltd and provides professional management services in ? Strategic Human Resource Management ? Employee Relations Advice ? Workplace Health & Safety Compliance Strategies ? Management Skills Training Philip holds qualifications in Accounting, Leadership, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations and is a qualified accountant.
MORE RESOURCES: News provided by Yahoo! News and Google News Small Business Administration moves Gulf Shores, Orange Beach service center Plastyc Makes Debit Cards a Small Biz Reality - TheStreet.com Wine Industry Trend? Innovative Small Biz Financing - Ecopreneurist (blog) Small Business Confidence Plummets The Politics of the Small Biz Bill - Zacks.com Small business workshop planned at Marion Public Library Small business worried about Labor win |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Genius Time? It Matters I frequently give presentations at small business gatherings, providing me the opportunity to have engaging conversations with owners about the challenges they face. Based on their input, the economy continues to plug along, heading in the right direction, and distancing itself from the difficult journey of the past few years. How To Ruin Your Business If you're like the rest of us, you've spent a lot of time trying different things to make your online business come together. There are countless methods of conducting a viable marketing career, but there are also as many ways to destroy one as well. If You Want To Be Remembered... Send handwritten notes. That applies whether you're a guy or a gal. Building Your Business for Success in 2005 It's a strange anomaly.Most people who set out to start their own business, no matter what type, build it for failure, not success. ADH Will Make Your Life More Productive & Your Life More Profitable What is a Virtual Assistant?? A Virtual Assistant is that indispensable element of your office staff - a professional that provides high quality administrative services in a highly scalable, value added format.? A Virtual Assistant is not an employee of your company, but rather an independent 1099 contractor who can work either by the hour or by retainer. Implementing an Internship Program CONSIDERING COMPANY NEEDS: In identifying your needs for the internship, you need to examine the chief responsibilities of the position. And the broader they are, the more flexibility you will be giving yourself and the intern. 5 Good Reasons a Self-Employed Professional Should Take Vacation So you think you're not justified in taking time away from your business because you're self-employed? Here are five great reasons why you should definitely take a vacation:1. Physical down time You work hard to grow and maintain your business. Perception: What Are Your Patients REALLY Hearing? Never underestimate the power of perception! Perception plays a major part in what is actually said -vs- how it is heard. And to patients. How to Create an Information Plan What is in an information plan?Before you even meet with a potential customer, you should have an action plan in place. The action plan should consist of 5 areas. Direct Mail - For Small Businesses We hear a lot of talk about junk mail nowadays. Many people will tell you that they dump it straight in the trash. Questions to Ask as Your Business Grows Here are some of the questions that you need to ask yourself regarding various areas of the business before you start your growth push. Are you clear on the goals of your business? Are your managers and other staff also up to date with these goals? Does your accountant or other adviser know what you are planning? Have you developed a business plan which brings into play the whole area of growth, which includes the resources that will be required of it? Have you assessed the performance of your marketing and advertising sections and if so, are these adequate? Have you put in strategies to get repeat sales? Are you clear about your competition and what you need to do to win when you start expanding your operations? Are you confident about your current advertising plan, including whether you have identified your target market and also the methods by which you will reach that market? Have you put in place policies for your employees? Do you feel you have loyal and productive staff? Have you put in place strategies for motivating your employees? This could include a system of extra remuneration or some other way of acknowledging their efforts. Using Excel Payroll Sheet to Make Payroll System Easier For the employees, payday is the brightest day; they finally get the compensation they so well deserve for the services they rendered. For the employer, this could be nerve-wracking, not because they don't want to pay their employees, but because some employers have a hard time calculating the payroll. Predicting Business Retirement Satisfaction for Business Owners Most business owners do not think of selling their companies as "retiring". Instead, these vital entrepreneurs see selling their business as a "transition. Real World Accounting for Small Business Owners If you're like me, you love accounting. It's so fascinating and such an ingenious system. Small Businesses - Big Obstacles Everyone is talking about small businesses. In 1993, when it was allowed, more than 90,000 new firms were registered by individuals. Window Cleaning Business Future Challenge With Self Cleaning Glass Self-cleaning glass has been talked about a lot, with such a catchy name in his hit the headlines of not only the trade journals, but also the mass media. Does self-cleaning glass mean that all the window cleaners and small businesses across this country are doomed? No, not yet. Six Sigma for Small Business It is not surprising that some people may perceive Six Sigma as being only for large corporations. Major corporations such as Allied Signal, Black & Decker, Dow Chemical, Dupont, Federal Express, General Electric, Johnson and Johnson, Kodak, Motorola, Sony, and Toshiba have all rolled out Six Sigma efforts and achieved outstanding results. Effectively Completing the Operations Plan Section of Your Business Plan The Operations Plan is a critical component of any business plan as it presents the Company's action plan for executing its vision. The Operations Plan must detail 1) the processes that are performed to serve customers every day (short-term processes) and 2) the overall business milestones that the company must attain to be successful (long-term processes). Analyzing Customers in Your Business Plan The Customer Analysis section of the business plan assesses the customer segments that the company serves. In it, the company must 1) identify its target customers, 2) convey the needs of these customers, and 3) show how its products and services satisfy these needs. The Skills Gap: It Pays to Use Experts By outsourcing to skilled professionals you'll be able to grow your business without adding overhead.Here are some of the costs associated with growing a business through acquiring staff:* recruitment* payroll and tax obligations* national insurance* employers liability* benefits (pension, car, medical, dental)* holiday pay / sick pay / maternity pay / water cooler pay!* office space* equipment or general office supplies* legal responsibilities that include employee policies on working hours, sexual harassment, sick time, leave of absence, holidays, benefits, performance reviews, grievances, terminations* training* managementDo not underestimate the time and money involved in recruiting and retaining staff.
|
| home | site map | articles |
| © 2006 |