Training

Harassment and Hostile Working Environment

The United States Supreme Court has virtually mandated that all employers enact a policy against sexual and other illegal harassment in the workplace. Under federal law, this means conduct that occurs because of race, national origin, religion, disability or age although state and local jurisdictions may protect other characteristics. This mandated policy must include an effective complaint reporting procedure. In addition, employers must train all managers and supervisors on their role in enforcing the policy and providing a harassment free working environment. Kathy Perkins provides harassment training to managers and supervisors designed to educate them on the law and provide them with the tools they need to comply with a policy against harassment and protect the organization against employee claims. She also recommends harassment training be provided to all levels of employees to help them determine what conduct might be perceived as illegal harassment and how to make a complaint if they are harassed or become aware of harassment against others.

Workplace Laws

Litigation often results from the decisions or communications of managers who are simply unaware of the requirements of employment laws they are required to follow. Kathy Perkins offers LAWS (Laws Applicable to the Workplace for Supervisors – and Managers training designed to improve compliance with workplace laws. Topics include: Discrimination, Harassment, Hostile Working Environment, Retaliation, Interviewing, Wage and Hour Pitfalls, Disability Accommodation, Family Medical Leave, Managing Leaves of Absence and Absenteeism, Performance Evaluations, Monitoring Employees, Employee Privacy Rights, Discipline and Termination. LAWS training will be customized for a particular client or audience. Click on the LAWS link for more information.

Individual Coaching

At times, executives, professionals or upper managers who are valuable to the organization behave in ways that create risk to the employer. Examples include conduct that might be perceived as harassment, discrimination or retaliation or bullying behavior. This conduct damages employee morale, reduces productivity, and creates a risk of liability for the employer. Kathy Perkins offers one on one coaching to assist these individuals in understanding acceptable and unacceptable workplace behaviors and the risks to self and the organization associated with this type of conduct. Coaching is ideally conducted when the employer recognizes the risks but before an employee makes a claim. But, it may also be a critical component of a prompt remedial action plan following investigation into a complaint in order to ensure no additional conduct perceived as harassment.