VinciWorks provides a free sexual harassment policy template to help organisations raise awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace and eradicate it for good.
The month of October saw an alarming number of high-profile allegations of sexual harassment. This included the downfall of Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein, Netflix cutting ties with Kevin Spacey and a scandal at Westminster. The subsequent #MeToo campaign and a shocking BBC survey highlighted further that the issue of sexual harassment is not limited to the heights of Hollywood and politics. Of the woman who said they had been sexually harassed, only 63% said they kept it to themselves, with 79% of male victims saying they didn’t report it.
Implementing a sexual harassment policy in your workplace is more than just ticking a box. Having such a policy in place, together with the appropriate anti-harassment training, will better equip staff and managers to spot signs of harassment at work and understand how to promote an inclusive and safe working environment for all staff.
You can download the sexual harassment policy template by clicking on the button below. The sexual harassment policy template can easily be edited to suit your organisation and industry.
What should a sexual harassment policy template include?
A sexual harasment policy template should include the following;
Policy statement
Explain that anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment, regardless of their sex and the sex of their harasser. The introduction to your policy should explain not only that all forms of sexual harassment are completely forbidden, but how important it is that every employee feels comfortable at work and that they can bring up any concerns they may have, whether they involve themselves or a colleague.
Bullying
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) defines bullying as offensive, malicious or insulting behaviour. Examples of bullying at work should be given.
Harassment
This section should give a definition of harassment. It is important to note that harassment is also unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which has the same purpose or effect as harassment.
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is a particular type of discrimination which is typically defined as unwelcome sexual advances or other verbal, physical or non-physical conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace. Examples should be given here.
This section should also warn that “romantic” or “consensual” relationships, dating or even isolated sexual encounters between senior and junior personnel may constitute or lead to sexual harassment because the junior person involved may not be a willing participant notwithstanding the perception of the senior person or statements of the junior person.
Your responsibility
In this section, it is important to state the staff’s responsibility to treat all colleagues with respect and dignity. Staff should report any incidents of sexual harassment to a designated person in the organisation.
Harassment at work assessment
VinciWorks has created a risk assessment designed to measure individuals’ perception of sexual harassment in the workplace. It is not a substitute for a thorough sexual harassment reporting procedure and all answers are anonymous. You can take the assessment here.
