The state of California mandates that all supervisors (in companies with 50 or more employees) receive sexual harassment prevention training at the work place, in addition to mandating that every employer shall act to ensure a workplace free of sexual harassment. The California Sexual Harassment Pamphlet is a great tool to comply with California’s requirement that employees receive information about sexual harassment and how to prevent it and how to report it. The pamphlet is designed specifically for California employers to obtain and distribute. It contains information about the definition of sexual harassment and provides examples of prohibited behavior. The pamphlet also enforces an employer’s zero-tolerance policy and assures employees of their right to complain about harassment without fear of retaliation.
Upon hiring workers, employers must inform employees of their right to a harassment-free workplace and provide a harassment complaint process if incidents occur. Sexual harassment pamphlets contain the information that businesses are legally-obligated to give to employees and, therefore, distributing them not only fulfills the requirement, but could protect a business in the event of a devastating legal claim. Furthermore, including these pamphlets in the orientation kits and having extra copies available shows an employer’s commitment to a harassment-free workplace. This pamphlet does not, however, fulfill California’s AB 1825 compliance requirements.
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, either verbal or physical, in the workplace. Employees as well as non-employees can be found to have engaged in sexual harassment, and males and females can be the subject of harassment as well as a harasser.
Providing sexual harassment training pamphlets in any business environment puts clear, easy-to-understand information in the hands of all employees. They educate staff on the often confusing subject of what constitutes sexual harassment and can prevent expensive and disastrous lawsuits and claims. Sexual harassment pamphlets contain understandable, easy-to-read training for all employees. These pamphlets define what is considered sexual harassment and the damaging effects harassment can have on the work environment. They also illustrate various types of harassment, explain rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees and teach employees what steps to take should harassment occur. After all, the key to preventing sexual harassment is teaching employees how to protect themselves and their rights.
