A surprising and upsetting fact is that 81% of women and 43% of men have reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment, either at work or elsewhere. This is a terrible stat and one that needs to be dealt with. At the same time, unfounded and untrue claims of sexual assault are occasionally made against bosses. This may be an attempt to receive financial compensation or simply out of a misunderstanding. Whatever the reason, what can you do to protect yourself as a business leader?
Create an Open, Transparent Office Culture
Nothing in your business should be secretive. Your accounts should be publicly available, your office space open plan, and private office doors kept open. The more transparently you act, the harder it is for unfair claims to be made against you. Outsiders will know that you’re a leader of integrity with nothing to hide.
Conversely, businesses that destroy documents, keep doors and shutters closed, and act secretively will always be subject to rumors. You can nip this in the bud early by promoting an open and honest atmosphere, where every employee feels able to speak their mind. This will lower the chances of untrue claims being made.
Attend Sexual Harassment Training Courses
Serious sexual assault is one thing, but there are often gray areas when it comes to harassment. What you might view as a harmless joke could be seen as sexually aggressive behavior to your staff members. To help everyone understand where the line is, hold regular sexual harassment training courses.
Bring in an outside expert to do this. You can then attend the course yourself. This doesn’t only prove your opposition to harassment and assault at work, but you may also learn something. This will help you avoid accidentally straying into territory that is taken in a different way from how you intended it.
Work with an Experienced Legal Team
Sexual assault is a serious accusation and you’ll want to have a team of lawyers on hand in case such an allegation does emerge. Make sure you have an attorney you can trust long before you need them. They’ll help you navigate any difficult legal periods and be there to defend you if that’s what you need.
You can look online for a sexual assault attorney with experience in this specific area. They should be someone different from your finance lawyers and business lawyers. Make sure they understand this area of the law well. That will reduce the chances of a claim being filed against you and increase your chances of winning if it does happen.
Sexual assault is one of the worst crimes a person can commit. Being wrongly accused of it can ruin your reputation and destroy your business. It’s important to foster an atmosphere of openness and transparency while working to understand how to stay on the right side of the line. Make sure you surround yourself with legal protection, as well. These three things will protect you in the face of unfounded
