HR tip: Sexual harassment

Learn HR, the new name for HRD & Payroll Solutions, continues to bring HRZone.co.uk members a range of HR and payroll tips in 2008. A market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally recognised professional qualifications, Learn HR is highly experienced in teaching about common HR and payroll problems. A wide selection of tips, tricks and guidance can be seen below. HRZone.co.uk highly recommends that any tips are taken as a starting point for guidance only.

Question:

"A woman who recently left our employment has now written to complain that, during her time with us, her boss sexually harassed her. As she has left, do we need to do anything?"

HR tip:

Yes, and quickly. Urge her to put her complaint to you in written detail so that you may carry out a thorough investigation. Then ask her to attend a formal grievance hearing. Let her know right away that you will do all this.

You must act promptly and record everything that you do in writing so that, if the woman takes legal steps against you without engaging in the grievance process, her case will be seriously weakened.

Regardless of what the woman does, if you find that sexual harassment did take place, you must take appropriate disciplinary action against the perpetrator and use the incident to demonstrate to all your employees that harassment in any form is not tolerated and will bring severe retribution.

Previous HR and Payroll tips:

July 2008
Dyslexia - a disability?
Demands for contractual statements
A new fair reason for dismissal
Problems of confidentiality
Heavy lifting and sex discrimination

June 2008
Time off for redundant employees
Making notes in disciplinary hearings
Reinstatement and re-engagement
Lateness and absence caused by transport strike

May 2008
Pets at work
Calculating pay-in-lieu of notice
New recruit fails to arrive
Recovering training costs from departing employee
Employing husband and wife in same unit

April 2008
Employee relocation
Does raising standards require new contract?
Return after redundancy
Mobile phone use

March 2008
Proof of drunkenness
Satisfactory references
Time off for funerals
Redundancy – bumping

February 2008
Companion at informal warning
Advising retirement age employees of their rights
Alcohol on site
Lawful discrimination

January 2008
Reducing company car standard
The disappearing employee
Pre-employment medicals
Monitoring bullying
Controlling absence

2007 tips

2006 tips

HR Zone, 7-Aug-2008
Categories: Employment Law
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