Sexual Harassment Policies

MGT330-0703A-02

Human Resource Management

Unit 1 Individual Project

Abstract:

This document communicates the sexual harassment policy of the fictional business, ACME Textiles, and also defines the investigative process to be followed when and if allegations of sexual harassment arise.

ACME Textiles has adopted the following policy in order to ensure our employees are able to work in a non hostile and professional environment, free from sexual harassment at all times. Allegations of sexual harassment will be investigated quickly and thoroughly and will be treated with the utmost importance. Penalties for violations of this policy may include demotion, suspension, and/or termination.

Sexual Harassment Definition:

Sexual Harassment is defined as "Harassment on the basis of sex that has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with a person's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment" (Dessler, 2005).

The guidelines of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) further defines sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that takes place under any of the following conditions (Dessler, 2005);

Ð'* Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment.

Ð'* Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting the individual such as promotions, bonuses, and raises.

Ð'* Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

What is Sexual Harassment at ACME Textiles?

Given the above definitions of sexual harassment, behavior that will not be tolerated falls under numerous scenarios including but not limited to the following examples;

Ð'* Quid Pro Quo scenarios in which sexual favors are asked or implied from the supervisor to the employee, as a way to earn the next raise or promotion.

Ð'* Harassment scenarios in which the result is a hostile, intimidating, and/or offensive environment for the affected employee. Offensive behavior that can result in this type of environment can even arise when one employee tells another employee a joke of a sexual nature, and someone walking by takes offensive to the joke.

Ð'* Flirtatious scenarios in which two employees flirting with each other, creating an uncomfortable or offensive environment for others in the same working environment can also be considered sexual harassment.

The bottom line and best method to use in order to avoid sexual harassment situations