Harassment in the workplace is something that everyone has heard of, with 65% of the bullies being the bosses, and humiliation in the form of jokes is something that is common and hard to detect, but not acceptable, and through these simple reminders, you can ensure that you respect everyone around you and are thoughtful in your dealings with others.
Speaking Up Early
A reason for misappropriating workplace behaviors escalating is that people do not take action against them immediately. If there is anything that someone said to you, and you felt like it was crossing a line, then you should be able to identity it immediately and also speak up against it on the spot, and you do not even have to give a whole lecture, but can instead say a simple statement telling the person that it is not appropriate, or remind them to keep it professional and respectful with clear boundaries. Such statements will also fit the offender, especially for someone who may have done it unintentionally, and will therefore be careful the next time. Never fall silent because if someone is mistreating you and you stay quiet, it can be taken as a sign of acceptance, and such behavior can then be expected again.
Watch Your Words and Actions
Respect is a huge part of the workplace because working in an office or an organization also means working with a lot of other people, so, your words and actions can have a huge impact on other people, and if your words are negative, your fellow employees will not feel good around you, and will not be able to bond with you, and with a lack of respect and team bonding, it becomes very difficult to work with your peers, as there is always a sense of discomfort, so, make sure that you are kind, patient, and respectful, and that you listen to what your peers have to say, and do not make anyone feel left out or unheard.
Lead by Example
If you are a leader or part of the management, then it is even more important for you to be respectful of everyone and exhibit proper behavior as firstly, they are influencing employee behavior, as the kinder they are, the kinder that the employees will try to be. Secondly, your employees will also feel included, and they will feel like their voices are being heard. All this will build a work culture safe zone where employees feel like they are heard, so when your employees come to you with a problem, do not try to rush into a solution, and take a deep breath, and try to understand the problem better as you need to make your employees feel welcomed and acknowledge them for bringing forth their problems, and then engage with your employees and ask some questions that will help you better understand, and then leave some room open for discussion by letting them know that you need time to think over it and that you will get back to them once you have a solution that can suit their needs.
Keep Learning and Stay Aware
Every company has its own set of rules and policies, so you should make yourself aware of them, so that you know the repercussions of your actions, and also the steps you can take if something unfortunate happens to you, since knowing about such things can help you take action during moments of distress and not have to panic. You can know who to go to make a report and the resources you can utilize. Also, be on the lookout for any change in company policy but read your emails so you know about the latest ones. Attend training and information sessions that are a part of every workplace and ensure that you complete your human resources compliance training so that you are well-informed.
Conclusion
The prevention of harassment in the workplace is not the work of a single entity like the human resource department, but the work of everyone, especially the leaders of a company, as when leaders notice something wrong and yet choose to stay quiet, even more inappropriate behavior is bound to continue. Everyone has a responsibility for themselves and for the people around them, so make sure to notice all signs of harassment, report it, and try your best to respect people’s boundaries and make them feel safe.
