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Proper Steps to Complete a Sexual Harassment Investigtion

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I am new in the HR department of my Alabama company. Can you please list the steps that I should take when I go about investigating a claim of sexual harassment?

Of course. First and foremost, make sure you understand that sexual harassment is and why it is important to ensure that your company does not have sexual harassment between employees. Knowledge will always help to inspire you and help to train your employees.

Sexual harassment is a situation in which an employee feels verbally or physically threatened in a sexual nature, when an employee is told that he or she will only receive certain benefits if he or she performs sexual favors, and when an employee simply feels uncomfortable as a result of any form of sexual activity or implications.

Title VII is the federal document that is in place to protect all employees across the country from sexual harassment. This document not only applies to your company in Alabama, but to companies in all states. Title VII protects the equality and rights of all employees and helps to ensure a safe and comfortable work environment for them.

Now, when it comes to investigating and disciplining your employees after there is a claim of sexual harassment, here are five simple steps that you should take in order to ensure that your investigation is legal and will be accepted by the courts (if your employee happens to file a sexual harassment suit against the company with the courts):

Speak with the harassed employee and record his or her story. Find out details of what allegedly happened.

Speak with the accused harasser. Also, be sure to take notes during this conversation.

Speak with all witnesses and take detailed notes. Don’t accuse anyone while questioning the witnesses; simply let them tell their stories.

Take all evidence into account. Make sure you can trust all parties and their statements.

Finally, after you have carefully weighed all evidence, take action to discipline the harasser, if he or she is guilty. Make sure that you write a detailed report explaining your decision and include evidence with the report.