Many countries, such as Canada, the UK, and the U.S., have laws requiring employers to protect their employees from sexual harassment by
- providing awareness training about what harassment is and what employee rights are
- reviewing past complaints to identify and reduce risks
- preparing managers and human resources (HR) departments to respond in ways that support the employee who was harassed and solve the problem
Laws are essential in providing employees with legal protection from workplace sexual harassment. Awareness trainings are important because they help increase employees’ and managers’ understanding of what different sexually harassing behaviors are and the harm they cause. These trainings help employees and managers understand their legal rights and responsibilities.
However, laws and awareness trainings alone are not enough. Employees and managers also need SKILLS to address the reality of what actually happens in common workplace situations, relationships, and communications, both in person and online.
Real-life situations are complicated because
- Bystanders who see a problem are often unsure of what is happening and worry about making things worse.
- Uncomfortable feelings and fear of loss often get in the way of realizing that there is a potential problem and of speaking up.
- Different cultures often affect how laws are implemented—and different perspectives often cause communication breakdowns.
- Even with the best of intentions, words and behaviors are likely to mean different things to different people.
To take effective action in protecting themselves and others from workplace sexual harassment and assault, people also need skills so they are prepared in the moment to recognize and stop unsafe behavior in themselves or others. All employees need to know how to
- Recognize and respect the boundaries of others. For example, asking instead of assuming.
- Recognize and manage their emotional triggers so they can make safer, wiser choices. For example, accepting disappointment gracefully.
- Recognize when their own boundaries start to be crossed and speak up clearly, respectfully, and persistently. For example, not letting thoughts like “They can’t help it” interfere.
- Recognize and overcome barriers to advocating for themselves and others. For example, fears of embarrassment, bothering, or offending someone.
- Recognize and protect themselves emotionally and physically from sexual harassment and assault. For example, saying, “STOP!” clearly and strongly instead of freezing—and using escape skills to get away from danger.
In addition, employees also need to know how to ensure positive consent in any personal, potentially intimate communications and relationships with colleagues and others. Positive consent means that each person gets to choose to participate—or not—and that they can change their mind at any time and will have their choice to stop be respected immediately—no matter what.
Practice is the most effective way of developing these skills. Since 1989, Kidpower has taught psychological and personal safety skills to millions of people of all ages, abilities, and walks of life. Our Positive Practice Teaching Method gives participants in our workshops the opportunity to be successful in rehearsing these skills safely and effectively in situations that are relevant to their lives.
Here are seven free resources from Kidpower’s extensive library of over 400 tools for learning, practicing, and teaching these skills in the workplace and everywhere else:
