How Pendant Can Help Address Workplace Harassment and Discrimination

Following a period of research, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that workplace surveys reveal high rates of witnessing or knowing about harassment. Sadly, the impact doesn’t stop there. Many employees across the job spectrum face discrimination for disabilities, gender identities, religious and cultural beliefs, and so much more.

Stopping Workplace Harassment 

The EEOC provided three steps to stopping workplace harassment before it happens:

1. Establish a Sense of Urgency:
   Leadership must visibly prioritize a harassment-free workplace by defining unacceptable behaviors, promoting diversity and inclusion, addressing risk factors (like isolated workspaces or youth-heavy workforces), and conducting climate surveys to assess and monitor workplace culture.
2. Implement Effective Policies and Training:
   Develop clear anti-harassment policies, ensure consistent and safe reporting systems, and provide comprehensive training to educate employees about these policies. Regularly test these systems to ensure their effectiveness.
3. Allocate Resources:
   Demonstrate commitment by dedicating sufficient budget and time to harassment prevention, including funding for complaint systems, training programs, and diversity efforts, while ensuring employees have the time to participate in these initiatives.

Why is harassment so important for HR professionals to track and prevent? Well, apart from the long term mental (and unfortunately even physical) implications of harassment in the workplace, harassment left unchecked could cause legal ramifications for corporations.

Part of Pendant’s mission is to provide employers, particularly HR professionals, with the tools they need to foster a positive workplace culture and support happy, healthy employees. Pendant makes it easy for all employees to access your company’s specific guidelines and resources through a platform designed to reach everyone, no matter the situation. This includes:

1. Onboarding with Pendant’s Checklists feature to make sure new employees review harassment documents, protocols, and training.
2. Timely surveys sent within Pendant to gauge how comfortable employees feel in the existing workspace and get feedback on whether they’ve had any uncomfortable interaction.
3. Accessing the 24/7 Pendant Assistant for those who are curious about a situation but might not want to ask or speak up yet. Employees can privately ask the Pendant Assistant AI chatbot and receive answers according to your company’s specific HR policies.
4. Direct communication with the HR team.

Addressing workplace harassment and discrimination is essential not just for protecting employee well-being but for fostering a culture of respect, trust, and inclusivity that benefits everyone in an organization. By implementing proactive strategies—such as clear policies, effective training, and open communication channels—HR professionals can take meaningful steps toward creating safer workplaces. With tools like Pendant, organizations can amplify these efforts, ensuring every employee has access to the resources they need to feel secure and supported. A commitment to prevention and accountability isn't just a legal necessity—it's the foundation of a thriving, engaged workforce.

Sources

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1. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2016). Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https://www.eeoc.gov/select-task-force-study-harassment-workplace

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