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Equal Employment Opportunity Office

Harassment

Proactive Steps

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Proactive Steps to Address Inappropriate Work Place Conduct and Behavior
(E.g., Harassment or Sexual Harassment)

If comfortable, confront (in a business-like and firm manner) the offending party and clearly communicate that the offending party’s communication, conduct, behavior, or action is inappropriate and must immediately stop.

  • Sometimes the party exhibiting inappropriate or offensive behavior may not realize that you find the conduct or behavior unacceptable.
therefore:
  • Using notes, cite specific dates and examples of the inappropriate or offensive communication, conduct, behavior, or action and such conduct or behavior must immediately stop.
Immediately report the inappropriate conduct and/or behavior to at least one of the following:
  • Supervisor
  • Manager
  • Department Head
  • Department Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator
  • Any member of management
Provide specifics:
  • What happened?
  • Who did it?
  • When did it happen?
  • Where did it happen?
  • What did you do?
  • Who saw this happen?
  • Provide evidence (e.g., documents, pictures, witnesses, etc.)

Remember
Incidents that may occur in the work place are generally resolvable, if appropriately and promptly addressed. Appropriate and prompt intervention, and reporting, often result in resolution. Appropriate and prompt intervention, and reporting, also help to minimize the possibility of an incident becoming greater in proportion and more of a concern.