Protecting Yourself

From General Petraeus to Kevin Clash--the cuddly voice of Sesame Street's Elmo--we often sit in amazement as we watch long-term careers implode under the pressure of sexual misconduct. 

 

According to a Society of Human Resource Management poll, 40% of employees admit to being involved in a workplace romance. While workplace romances are not unlawful, there are steps that employers and employees should take to avoid sexual misconduct: 

 

1. Remember that your office email is your office's email. Before sending a questionable email, ask yourself, "Would my family and I be embarrassed if the world read this email?" 

  

2. While compliments are ok, they can cross the line. Resist the urge to say whatever is on your mind. Test out your comments by saying to yourself, "How would my grandmother respond?"

 

3. As a manager, you have a duty to detect, correct and prevent sexual harassment in your workplace. Consider creating policies and providing training to proactively educate your employees.

 

Remember, sexual harassment prevention training is an investment not a cost. Feel free to contact me for training resources.