PLATFORM : Harassment Policy

Without clear-cut guidelines on identifying what denotes sexual harassment, and a recommended course of action for those who have been harassed, companies will face a difficult battle in dealing with the issue effectively.

Each company, with the participation of employees and legal and crisis-communication counselors, should draw up its own policy. The company should inform employees of all components of the policy. It should be made clear that the policy has the support of top management.

The work environment can only benefit from removing the uncertainty that surrounds the topic of harassment. Employees will be sure of where they stand and will have clear-cut guidelines for taking action. Moreover, from a corporate perspective, it is the company that can demonstrate that it has taken steps to deal with this issue, (and) will have a far better defense against potential lawsuits.