COURSE OVERVIEW:

Organisations must prevent and eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace because sexual harassment is illegal. Why is it illegal? Because sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination, which is specifically prohibited by law.    

Section 28A of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) defines sexual harassment as when a person makes an unwelcome sexual advance, an unwelcome request for sexual favours, or engages in other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in relation to a person. This occurs in circumstances where it is possible that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated or intimidated. Sexual harassment can be subtle and implicit rather than explicit.

Sexual harassment can have devastating effects in the workplace. Managers and supervisors who engage in sexual harassment subject their companies to automatic liability, regardless of whether the company condones the conduct or is even aware of it. Non-supervisory employees who engage in harassment can also subject their employer to liability if the company knows or should know about the conduct and fails to take prompt action to stop it. In addition to the potential financial costs of lawsuits brought by victims of harassment, a company that allows sexual harassment in the workplace often suffers lowered employee morale, negative publicity and high turnover.

A company's best defence is an offense. Companies must take action to prevent and eliminate sexual harassment by creating, communicating and strictly enforcing a strong, zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment and other inappropriate conduct. A company's managers and supervisors play the most crucial role in the communication and enforcement of that policy. They are often the first to hear a complaint of sexual harassment or to see inappropriate sexual activity in the workplace. And even if they are not the first to see it, they may be the best persons with the power to stop it.

Managers and supervisors must, therefore, have a clear understanding of what sexual harassment is, be aware of ways to prevent it, and know how to eliminate it. The actions of managers and supervisors must send a clear message to all employees that sexual harassment will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

This course is suitable for professionals seeking a better understanding of workplace sexual harassment, the anti-harassment guidelines, what is considered sexual harassment and what is not, the cost of sexual harassment to the organisation and how companies can reduce liability for sexual harassment.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

·       What is meant by sexual harassment?

·       Why do managers and supervisors need to learn about sexual harassment?

·       The anti-harassment guidelines

·       How does sexual harassment violate the law?

·       Who does the law protect?

·       How same-sex harassment is against the law?

·       How harassment of both men and women can be illegal?

·       How sexual orientation harassment can be illegal?  

·       How quid pro quo harassment is unwelcome sexual conduct?

·       How hostile environment harassment is an unwelcome sexual or gender-based conduct?

·       How does the law define sexual harassment? 

·       What makes a work environment hostile?        

·       Why you should never assume that an employee is being oversensitive?

·       How nonsexual abuse aimed at one sex is harassment?   

·       How innocent advances are not harassment?

·       How the managers and supervisors conduct, can create a hostile environment?

·       How one incident of unwanted touching can be harassment?

·       How comments, pinups, or calendars can be harassment?         

·       How a manager's or supervisor's unfulfilled threats can constitute sexual harassment?

·       How false rumours concerning an employee's alleged sexual activity may become sexual harassment?

·       What can sexual harassment cost the company?

·       The steps companies must take to reduce liability for sexual harassment

·       How to establish a written policy prohibiting harassment? 

·       How to communicate the sexual harassment policy and train employees?

·       How to establish an effective company complaint procedure?

·       Why is a complaint procedure important?         

·       Why employers should regularly monitor their managers and supervisors for anti-harassment behaviour?

·       The steps supervisors and managers must take, if harassment is found

·       Why is it important to take prompt action to eliminate known sexual harassment?

·       The importance of developing and documenting all details of a sexual harassment investigation

·       How to avoid defamation liability?

·       Why take quick action to stop retaliation?

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.