101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees: A Manager’s Guide to Addressing Performance, Conduct, and Discipline Challenges

CHAPTER 8Sexually Offensive Behavior

Harassment refers to a wide spectrum of offensive behaviors. What constitutes inappropriate workplace conduct is often subject to debate because subtleties and innuendos can be difficult to prove, but one thing is clear: When sexually charged issues become pervasive in the workplace, a claim of sexual harassment may be sustained.

Furthermore, claims of harassment and discrimination, unlike other workplace situations, require that a company conduct an internal investigation. The standard expectation is that employers will intervene and remedy the situation in a timely manner after having completed a thorough investigation and reaching a reasonable conclusion. In fact, failure to take immediate corrective action ...