A Lawyer's Guide to Drafting a Zero-Tolerance Workplace Harassment Policy
Most organisations take considerable effort to draft policies and procedures like employment agreements and code of conduct, but consider workplace harassment policies to be just regulatory documents. Unfortunately, issues related to the workplace environment are likely to surface procedural shortcomings that are often overlooked at the stage of drafting. An ideally crafted policy against workplace harassment is not supposed to serve as a mere prohibition of inappropriate behaviour but should be capable of communicating organisational expectations, providing adequate reporting channels, and offering procedural guidelines for tackling difficult workplace situations. Most effective workplace policies do not have to be long. They have to work well when they are needed. Quick Legal Answer A zero tolerance workplace harassment policy must not only give general statements but must also give procedural guidance. The company should make sure that employees have ...