Employees have a right to a safe workplace that is free from all harm, including sexual harassment.

The State of Vermont requires that all employees participate in sexual harassment training within 12 months of being hired.

At a minimum, employers have a legal duty to create and maintain workplaces that are free from sexual harassment. Preventing sexual harassment at work is about more than understanding the laws that prohibit it. Individual behaviors and organizational systems create circumstances where this is more, or less, likely to occur. Understanding personal rights and responsibilities, as well as employer obligations, is vital to preventing sexual harassment at work.

In this interactive workshop employees and supervisors learn how legal definitions of sexual harassment apply to everyday life at work. They also learn what constitutes a hostile work environment and how to prevent these situations from taking over. Additionally, participants explore strategies for how to take prevention further than a “zero-tolerance policy” (which you should have!) to build a work culture where harassment is least likely to occur.

After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Recognize sexual harassment

• Differentiate between the two main kinds of harassment

• Understand and enforce workplace policy regarding sexual harassment

• Know the process for making and investigating a complaint of sexual harassment

• Take appropriate corrective action from the investigation findings

• Help promote and maintain a healthy and equitable place to work