HomeEducationalHow Companies Can Strengthen Gender Diversity and Prevent Sexual Harassment

How Companies Can Strengthen Gender Diversity and Prevent Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment in the workplace affects the performance of every worker. The problem is that most employees are afraid of being fired or facing a hostile work environment, which keeps them from reporting harassment. By allowing employees to continue engaging in sexual harassment, the company indirectly encourages sexual harassment. Orientation and training on sexual harassment are usually provided to employees by most companies. You may be surprised to discover that sexual harassment training only provides your employees with guidance on what to do if they feel they are being harassed. However, these courses do not teach methods for preventing sexual harassment. It is for this reason that orientation and training should emphasize the prevention of sexual harassment rather than addressing the harassment that has already occurred.Therefore, the company should conduct orientation and training sessions for all employees during their tenure as well as before they are hired.

Training on Sexual Harassment

There is no risk of employees being terminated or leaving the company if they take the training. Most employees misperceive sexual harassment training because it is given during orientation, not while they are employed. It would be easier for employees to understand the guidelines and standards if the training took place during their employment.  According to F4S, Employees are prone to quit if they’re unhappy with their workplace environment. 

When it comes to new hires, most employers don’t consider the existing training they offer their employees. They don’t evaluate the amount of diversity and sexual harassment training they provide to new hires when they hire them, and training isn’t often revamped.

It’s a common misconception that orientation and training are only necessary when something goes wrong. However, if you fail to provide training and orientation to address harassment, you admit there is a problem, and you condone it by allowing employees to believe it is acceptable.

Workplace Gender Diversity Training

There are often underlying issues in your company that does not involve sexual harassment, which is why diversity training is so essential.

The things that appear to fit under the heading of sexual harassment may affect people’s personalities, their religious beliefs, or their race. Diversity and inclusion training, including courses on gender diversity, will encourage employees to work together more effectively. Those who feel comfortable at work will work harder, take better care of each other, and form strong working relationships with their colleagues.

By providing these pieces of training, you are also helping your employees to feel more confident. When an employee feels comfortable in their surroundings, they are more likely to speak up, report, and even resist sexual harassment at work. Additionally, gender diversity training can prevent problems within your company from turning into sexual harassment problems that could adversely affect your company.

Gender diversity and inclusion training can also empower hiring managers to interview potential new hires that may not have been considered previously.

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