This harassment video series--one tape for managers, and one tape for employees--focuses on all types of harassment, including but moving beyond, gender issues. The content includes the substance of the three recent supreme court rulings on workplace harassment.
One of the features that distinguishes the new series is an emphasis on taking personal responsibility for ending workplace harassment of all kinds. Instead of the traditional focus on defining illegal behavior and encouraging people to avoid it, this series emphasizes the responsibility of not only offenders, but also management and observers who have to stop inappropriate behavior before it escalates to the level of illegal harassment.
The individual and organizational costs of workplace harassment are enormous. While sexual harassment has commanded much of the media's attention, inappropriate and illegal behavior at work goes far beyond gender issues. In most workplaces it's all too common to find employees who have been personally touched by the intimidation and discomfort of workplace harassment-as observers, targets or as one of those accused of harassing others.
Despite the dark picture harassment can create, there is good news of organizations and employees. If we work together, we can stop harassment. To accomplish this will take a united effort by all those affected by harassment at work. This includes the offenders, those they offend, observers of the behavior, and organizational leaders.
What distinguishes You Can Stop Harassment is its positive message. The programs in this series are not about pointing fingers and assigning blame. We all share responsibility for stopping workplace harassment. It isn't easy work. The reasons for harassment are many and the roots run deep. Working together, however, we can make great progress toward creating workplaces where people feel safe, valued and free to do their best work.
Program Objectives:
You Can Stop Harassment is intended to encourage employees, supervisors, team leaders and managers in public and private sector organizations to take responsibility to help end all forms of harassment in their workplaces.
After viewing Program 1, Taking Responsibility, and working through the printed support materials, participants should understand:
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What illegal harassment is and its impact at work.
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The need to support our coworkers in facing up to harassment.
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How to confront harassment to make it stop.
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How to defuse disrespectful or harassing situations.
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That not all harassment is intentional.
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That it's the impact of our behavior that counts, not our intentions.
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The importance of setting appropriate boundaries.
In addition to the objectives above, after viewing Program 2, The Responsible Leader, and working through the printed support materials, participants should understand the following:
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The importance of modeling appropriate behavior.
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The liabilities managers and organizations face.
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How to handle a harassment complaint.
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The danger of retaliation.
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We recommend supervisors and managers view both programs in the series.
Program Contents: You Can Stop Harassment is composed of short dramatizations that explore harassment issues that are common within organizations. Each scenario is analyzed by a diverse group of legal, human resource and communications experts. These practitioners discuss the significance of the dramatization and suggest guidelines when encountering a similar situation. Several scenarios are "rewound" and played again, modeling appropriate, respectful communication.
Program 1 Scenarios:
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1st Scenario: Sexual & gender harassment.
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2nd Scenario: Racial harassment.
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3rd Scenario: Sexual orientation harassment.
Program 2 Scenarios:
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1st Scenario: Racial & sexual harassment.
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2nd Scenario: Ethnic & religious harassment.
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3rd Scenario: Same sex harassment.
