By
Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP
on
Sep
07,
2018
3 min read
0 comment(s)
In just 18 short months, the #MeToo movement has jolted the workplace in ways few other issues ever have. As women – and men – come forward to speak out about having been victims, sexual harassment has grabbed headlines and become a key issue business owners and managers face.
#MeToo has changed expectations for the workplace. “Boys will be boys” banter or referring to a colleague as “honey” are no longer acceptable practices, nor should they have ever been, about which company leaders should just shake their heads and move on. The movement has underscored the need for employers to adopt a zero-tolerance stance and take steps to ensure sexual harassment is not occurring in their workplaces.
The #MeToo era has advanced five new “rules” in the workplace:
To put real numbers with the findings of an ABC News - Washington Post poll, 33 million U.S. women have experienced sexual harassment at work, while 14 million have been sexually abused.
Business owners and managers who desire a harassment-free workplace should:
The #MeToo movement has brought sexual harassment in the workplace into the spotlight. If you have not already taken a second (or third) look at what your company currently does to create and maintain a harassment-free work environment, now is the time to do so.
In today’s workplace, leaders must go beyond awareness—they must actively create policies and cultures that prevent harassment, encourage accountability, and protect all employees. Adapting to the evolving expectations of the #MeToo era isn’t just about compliance—it’s about cultivating trust and fairness across your organization.
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