In yesterday’s Advisor, Attorney Julie A. Moore helped managers through the thorny task of harassment investigations. Today, her do’s and don’ts for investigators, plus an introduction to BLR®‘s 10-minutes-at-a-time training system for managers and supervisors.
p>Moore, who is president and founder of Employment Practices Group in North Andover, Massachusetts, offered her suggestions at BLR®‘s National Employment Law Update, held recently in Las Vegas.
Do’s for the HR Professional Investigating a Harassment Charge
- Review relevant policies relating to harassment beforehand
- Stay current on policies and laws, and that includes federal, state, and local laws
- Seek legal advice if you’re unsure what steps to take or if the situation is potentially litigious
- Keep the discussions, observations, and goals objective
- Be clear, direct, and straightforward
- Keep the dialogue as concise as possible
- Remember that you have two potential victims—the accuser and the accused, so be careful not to prejudge
- Enlist a third party in potentially litigious meetings so you have a witness
- Listen, and record comments and questions from the employee
- Communicate in person whenever possible; communicate by phone only as a second choice
Yes, you do have the budget and time to train managers and supervisors with BLR’s® 10-Minute HR Trainer. Try it at no cost or risk. Read more.
Don’ts for the HR Professional investigating a Harassment Charge
- Don’t make supporting comments that offer your opinion (For example, “I can understand that you’re upset” works; however, “You have a right /good reason to be angry” doesn’t work)
- Don’t forget your body language can convey your opinion
- Don’t give the appearance of bias
- Don’t soft-pedal the tough discussions—sparing feelings won’t work anyway, and may muddy the message to the employee
- Don’t make any promises, other than to find out more information
- Don’t discuss other similar situations involving other employees
- Don’t answer questions immediately unless you know the answers—just listen and record them
- Don’t use email for the initial communication, delivery of a tough message, or negotiating
These do’s and don’ts will help your managers deal with the tricky challenge of harassment allegations. That’s important, but it’s just one of, what, a couple dozen things your people need training on? The trouble is, training is a pain. You need a program that’s easy for you to deliver and that requires little time away from busy schedules. Also, if you’re like most companies in these tight budget days, you need a program that’s reasonable in cost.
We asked our editors what they recommend for training supervisors and managers in a minimum amount of time with maximum effect. They came back with BLR’s unique 10-Minute HR Trainer.
Train your line managers with BLR’s 10-Minute HR Trainer. There won’t be time for classroom boredom. Try it for free.
As its name implies, this product trains managers and supervisors in critical HR skills in as little as 10 minutes for each topic. 10-Minute HR Trainer offers these features:
Trains in 50 key HR topics under all major employment laws, including manager and supervisor responsibilities, and how to legally carry out managerial actions from hiring to termination. (See link for a complete list of topics below.)
Uses the same teaching sequence master teachers use. Every training unit includes an overview, bullet points on key lessons, a quiz, and a handout to reinforce the lesson later.
Completely prewritten and self-contained. Each unit comes as a set of reproducible documents. Just make copies or turn them into overheads, and you’re done. (Take a look at a sample lesson below.)
Updated continually. As laws change, your training needs do so as well. 10-Minute HR Trainer provides new lessons and updated information every 90 days, along with a monthly Training Forum newsletter, for as long as you are in the program.
Works fast. Each session is so focused that there’s not a second’s waste of time. Your managers are in and out almost before they can look at the clock, yet they remember small details even months later.
Evaluate It at No Cost for 30 Days
We’ve arranged to make 10-Minute HR Trainer available to our readers for a 30-day, in-office, no-cost trial. Review it at your own pace and try some lessons with your colleagues. If it’s not for you, return it at our expense. Click here and we’ll set you up with 10-Minute HR Trainer.
Download sample lesson
Download complete list of topics/Table of Contents
Download Training Forum Newsletter