With all the talk of sexual harassment in the workplace over the last few months, many employers are concerned about harassment claims at their own business. Not only does workplace harassment have a significant negative impact on employees affected, but any lawsuits filed in response to harassing behavior can be costly – they cause morale issues in the workplace, take time and resources away from key personnel to respond to the lawsuit, and cost the employer in defense costs and possible adverse judgments. Taking a few key steps to prevent harassment from occurring in the first place, thus preventing harassment claims, is essential for every employer.
