Course Outcomes

This sexual harassment course for managers will:

  • Assess participants’ knowledge of sexual harassment and its prevention.
  • Explore a manager’s obligations.
  • Outline what sexual harassment is and is not.
  • Explain organizational risk factors.
  • Discuss the organization’s reporting process.

Course Overview

While harassment prevention is everyone’s responsibility, those in management positions have a special set of workplace duties for which they are responsible. This course addresses those obligations and will assist managers in preventing and responding to incidents of sexual harassment.

During the program, we will outline state and federal laws governing sexual harassment prevention and reporting, discuss organizational risk factors, and review the organization’s anti-harassment policy and investigation process.

This workshop can be offered as a standalone program or in conjunction with No, It’s Not Okay: Understanding and Avoiding Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. 

Program Objectives

At this program’s conclusion, participants should be able to:

  • Model appropriate behavior.
  • Promote a work environment that encourages respect.
  • Identify sexual harassment.
  • Respond appropriately to claims of sexual harassment.
  • Explain the federal and state harassment laws that apply to their organization.
  • Take appropriate steps to eliminate behavior that might be perceived as sexual harassment.
  • Investigate complaints.

The following outline highlights some of the course’s key learning points. As part of your training program, we will modify content as needed to meet your business objectives. Upon request, we will provide you with a copy of the participant materials prior to the session(s).

Workshop Outline

True or False: What You Already Know

This program opens with a quick knowledge quiz to test participants’ existing understanding of sexual harassment prevention. Working in table teams, the group will evaluate 20 statements and determine whether they are myths or facts. Following that activity, we will review sexual harassment claims statistics and introduce the agenda for the remainder of the session.

What’s the Exposure?: A Risk Assessment

In this course component, we will examine organizational climate and how corporate culture influences behavior. Working in teams, participants will evaluate risk factors and the extent to which their organization is exposed. Next, we will review specific strategies for reducing the organization’s vulnerability and promoting an atmosphere of respect.

It’s the Right (and Legal) Thing to Do: Why This Matters

This part of the workshop looks at both the moral and legal reasons employers should care about promoting a climate of respect. Specifically, we will examine the effects of harassment on individuals who experience it and the laws governing harassment claims. Through a powerful exercise that incorporates stories of harassment, participants should begin to understand the effects harassment has on others and their obligations as leaders in their organization.

Processes and Procedures: Understanding the Map

If managers and employees don’t understand what to do should harassment occur, then policies and procedures don’t mean much. In this part of the program, we will walk through the organization’s policy and complaint procedure. 

By the conclusion of this workshop, participants should understand their obligations as managers to promote a culture of respect free from sexual harassment. They should also know what to do should an incident occur.