{"id":55,"date":"2016-07-18T03:12:13","date_gmt":"2016-07-18T03:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hartlg.com\/?post_type=avada_portfolio&p=55"},"modified":"2021-10-26T21:19:02","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T21:19:02","slug":"monochrome-blog","status":"publish","type":"avada_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/www.hartlg.com\/?avada_portfolio=monochrome-blog","title":{"rendered":"Preventing Sexual Harassment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Preventing Sexual Harassment<\/h2>\n<\/div>

A HIGH STAKES LEARNING CHALLENGE<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The Need<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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We get an urgent call from an HR director: some high performing professionals \u2013 in a high stress medical environment \u2013 are being accused of \u201cinsensitive, sexist behavior.\u201d Their words and actions are creating a drift towards a \u201ctoxic work environment\u201d that puts the company in legal jeopardy. Off the shelf training isn\u2019t the answer. The CEO tells us: \u201cYou need to hit this nail on the head. We need change now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    Get the offenders to stop the harassing behaviors<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

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    Help retain talented employees who may leave because of harassment<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

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    Make clear the risks of legal and financial consequences<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

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    Empower staff with an ongoing information resource<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>

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    Our Solution<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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    Collaborating with the company\u2019s committed CFO, and calling upon our team\u2019s legal experience, we designed and delivered intensive half-day workshops that focused on defining offensive behavior and language; depicting the impacts on team members; and creating an action plan for maintaining a respectful workplace. Guided Improv\u2122 scenarios brought the issues to life, and participants who anticipated a \u201cboring lecture\u201d remained fully engaged.<\/p>\n

    The high point of the workshop was a courtroom scene, in which a defendant accused of harassing behavior, is grilled by an attorney. The defendant\u2019s discomfort made a big impression on participants. One person objected that the scene was \u201cprobably exaggerated to scare us.\u201d He had a lightbulb moment when he learned that the script was based on actual courtroom transcripts, and that the award in the case was $168 million \u2013 the largest sexual harassment award in US history.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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      Needs assessment meetings with managers and staff<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

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      Half-day mandatory workshops at all company locations<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

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      Interactive Guided Improv\u2122 scenarios on dealing with unacceptable behavior<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

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      Facilitated discussions on negative impacts on staff and the company<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

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      Strengths-based planning for maintaining a respectful workplace<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

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      Custom online video on HR policies and addressing inappropriate behavior<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>

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      The Outcome<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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      The training had a powerful impact on management and staff, and provided a strong starting point for re-setting the workplace culture. Harassing behaviors were dramatically reduced, and team members report that they have made good use of the communications tools they learned. \u00a0The custom video we produced highlights the company\u2019s values and harassment policies for on-boarding new employees; it also provides an ongoing, periodically updated resource that keeps the learning alive.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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