Tag Archives: training

Tracy Emmerich | March 25, 2021

Harassment can lead to decreased productivity, increased turnover, possible legal costs, and potentially irreparable harm to a company’s reputation. Leap Solutions’ HR specialists can help your company achieve compliance by providing harassment prevention training for all of your associates. We are dedicated to keeping you informed and empowered with relevant, up-to-the-minute information and resources, working with you to develop practical solutions and smart planning decisions for your organization.

 

In this issue of our newsletter:

  • Harassment Prevention Training
  • Take note — anyone not yet trained, or trained in 2019, needs to have harassment prevention training in 2021!
  • All employers must:

Harassment Prevention Training 

In 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 1825, which required that employers with 50 or more employees provide supervisory employees with a mandatory two hours sexual harassment prevention training within six months of hire or promotion, and once every two years thereafter.

In 2018, California extended harassment prevention training under SB 1343, requiring employers with five or more employees to provide two hours of interactive sexual harassment prevention training for all supervisors, and one hour to all non-supervisory employees. Training must be provided for new hires and within six months for those promoted to supervisory roles. The interactive training is required every two years and must include the prevention of abusive conduct.

Still, fifteen years after 2005’s AB 1825, workplace harassment continues to affect employees’ long-term emotional, physical, and economic wellbeing. Harassment can lead to decreased productivity, increased turnover, possible legal costs, and potentially irreparable harm to a company’s reputation.

Many California employers conducted training in 2019 to achieve compliance by the January 1, 2020 deadline, but when Governor Newsom extended the deadline to January 1, 2021, some employers delayed training because of the pandemic, even though the January 2021 deadline did not change.

 

Take note — anyone not yet trained, or trained in 2019, needs to have harassment prevention training in 2021! 

With the advent of required training, there appeared to be fewer quid pro quo harassment claims, and increased hostile work environment complaints or complaints of people ‘just not getting along.’ Was the training so effective that managers no longer offered some kind of benefit in exchange for sexual favors? Not likely. Even with 2017’s Me Too Movement and the heightened awareness it generated, harassment remains, the investigation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo being the current example.

Is checking the ‘completed’ harassment training box ever enough? Nope.

Are your employees afraid to report harassment? Is your company culture respectful, inclusive, and safe? Has training offered your employees the ability to ask questions that are specific to your industry or to the challenges they face in your work environment? All employees benefit when those questions are examined during in-person training. Engaging, effective interactive training provides employees with great tools to competently and professionally handle harassment matters and boosts employee confidence that they’re in an inclusive, respectful, safe, and responsive workplace.

 

All employers must:

  • distribute a pamphlet on sexual harassment to all employees;
  • display the required California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) poster, which includes information on the illegality of sexual harassment and discrimination;
  • display the required Transgender Rights in the Workplace poster.

Employers with 15 or more employees must also post the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity poster.

Leap Solutions offers English and Spanish training sessions for supervisory and non-supervisory employees. Call us to learn about our custom and group harassment and abusive prevention training.

 

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Leap Solutions is a diverse group of highly skilled management, organizational development, and human resources, and executive search and recruitment professionals who have spent decades doing what we feel passionate about helping you feel passionate about what you do. Our HR specialists can help you get a handle on the ever-changing COVID-19 guidelines, programs, and legislation that may impact you and your employees. We are available to work with you to develop practical solutions and smart planning decisions for your organization’s immediate, near, and long-term needs.

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Tracy Emmerich | February 19, 2020

From the ongoing #MeToo movement to nightly TV coverage of high-profile courtroom trials to the 2020 Oscar-winning movie Bombshell…there’s no question that sexual harassment is on our collective mind. We’re seeing just how damaging harassment can be to an employee’s long-term emotional, physical and economic wellbeing, and we’re recognizing that harassment can lead to decreased productivity, increased turnover, possible legal costs and potentially irreparable harm to a company’s reputation.

The time is now to protect your employees and your company by actively creating and fostering a harassment-free work environment.

It’s the Law…and It’s an Opportunity

As you know, Senate Bill 778 requires employers with five or more employees to complete sexual harassment prevention training by January 1, 2021. That means you should implement the trainings in 2020 in order to be fully compliant by that date.

But sexual harassment prevention training can be so much more than the fulfillment of a government mandate. Done well, it can be a vital opportunity for employers to instill employee faith in your organization’s ability to competently and professionally handle matters of harassment and to boost employee confidence in your absolute commitment to an inclusive, respectful, safe and responsive workplace.

Educating Employees with Harassment Prevention Training

Harassment training helps ensure that no employee feels unsafe at work. At its core is your anti-harassment policy, which is not only helpful but required for any size organization. The experts at Leap Solutions can help you establish an easy-to-understand, comprehensive written policy that is in full compliance with current federal, state and local requirements.

An effective policy for preventing harassment, discrimination and retaliation will:

  • List all protected classes and characteristics (including race, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status)
  • Define and provide concrete examples of harassment
  • State unequivocally that unlawful harassment is prohibited by all supervisors, coworkers and third parties
  • Outline consequences for violating harassment policy
  • Explain how employees can complain of harassment or report observed harassment
  • Allow employees to report harassment to someone other than a direct supervisor
  • Require supervisors to report all complaints to an appropriate representative
  • Establish protocols for prompt, thorough, fair and impartial investigations (including careful and objective documentation of witness interviews, factual findings, conclusions and steps taken)
  • Assure that investigations will be kept as confidential as possible
  • Confirm that employees will not be retaliated against for complaining or participating in a reporting process or investigation
  • Include procedures for timely, fair remedial action if misconduct is found (note: the behavior need not rise to the level of a policy or law violation to warrant a remedy, and remedial measures might include counseling, training, a “last chance” agreement, demotion, salary reduction, bonus rescinding or termination)
  • State that employees who file a complaint will be notified about the status of the complaint, the results of any investigation and actions taken

Quality harassment prevention training clearly and compellingly communicates the details of your policy and informs and educates your employees about the ins and outs of what does (and what does not) constitute harassment. It reinforces the steps to take in the event that harassment occurs, and it confirms that the company can be trusted to respond with diligence and candor. Moreover, training conveys that you genuinely care about your employees—and about doing everything you can to eliminate harassment from the workplace.

Empowering People with Harassment Prevention Training

Even with today’s heightened awareness, all too many harassment victims and bystanders feel conflicted—they may be embarrassed or ashamed, unsure of whether an incident qualifies as harassment, worried they won’t be believed or the company won’t take appropriate action, or afraid of social and/or professional retaliation. Instead of reporting, they might avoid the harasser, deny or downplay the gravity of the situation, or simply try to forget, ignore or endure the offensive behavior.

 

The best harassment prevention training, however, can make a world of difference by empowering employees at all levels to:

  • Respectfully speak up, in the moment, when they see or experience something they find offensive
  • Broaden self-awareness and recognize when and how their own behavior, however well-intended, might be perceived as inappropriate
  • Readily identify the kinds of language and behaviors that could be considered harassment
  • Know their rights and confidently report any harassment they encounter
  • Understand their obligations as bystanders
  • Safely intervene when they witness harassing behavior
  • Find practical, smart ways to encourage and support coworker victims
  • Remain confident that their fellow team members will stand behind them if an incident occurs

Tailored harassment prevention training further empowers managers and supervisors to:

  • Pay close attention to employees and employee reactions, both spoken and unspoken
  • Recognize different types of harassment
  • Address inappropriate behavior calmly and expediently
  • Understand the responsibilities inherent to positions of influence
  • Build relationships in which employees feel secure voicing concerns
  • Refer to a set standard when a harassment complaint is made

Finally, harassment prevention training empowers and equips company leaders with systems, tools and resources to:

  • Support victims
  • Protect against false allegations
  • Avoid legal liability
  • Handle any and all complaints promptly, confidentially and fairly

 

At Leap Solutions, we’re as dedicated to protecting your employees and reducing and preventing harassment in the workplace as you are. We can customize trainings to your specific workplace and your unique employees, and you can count on our seasoned facilitators to engage your employees with real-world scenarios, specific and relevant situational examples, and expert answers to all manner of questions.

As you can imagine, the lasting benefits of Leap’s harassment trainings extend well beyond the workplace. After completing the training, individuals experience far greater self-awareness and are better equipped to identify and appropriately respond to harassment anywhere it might take place.

 

Building Community through Harassment Prevention Training

Best of all, training builds community. When everyone is well informed and on the same page, and employees in all positions are consistently held accountable, every individual plays an essential role in the collective solution to harassment and the creation of safe, considerate happy workplaces.

Call us to learn about custom and/or group harassment prevention training opportunities, or sign up online for one of our pre-scheduled 2020 trainings—we offer morning and afternoon sessions for both supervisory and non-supervisory employees and in both English and Spanish.

 

2020 Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training

All sessions will be held at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau 3589 Westwind Blvd Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training  – SPANISH

  • Date: Wednesday – April 8, 2020
  • Time: 8:30 am – 9:30 am (non-supervisory employees)
  • Time: 8:30 am – 10:30 am (supervisory employees)

Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training – ENGLISH

  • Date: Wednesday – April 8, 2020
  • Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (non-supervisory employees)
  • Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (supervisory employees)

Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training  – SPANISH

  • Date: Wednesday – June 10, 2020
  • Time: 8:30 am – 9:30 am (non-supervisory employees)
  • Time: 8:30 am – 10:30 am (supervisory employees)

Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training – ENGLISH

  • Date: Wednesday – June 10, 2020
  • Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (non-supervisory employees)
  • Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (supervisory employees)

Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training  – SPANISH

  • Date: Wednesday – September 9, 2020
  • Time: 8:30 am – 9:30 am (non-supervisory employees)
  • Time: 8:30 am – 10:30 am (supervisory employees)

Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training – ENGLISH

  • Date: Wednesday – September 9, 2020
  • Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (non-supervisory employees)
  • Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (supervisory employees)

Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training  – SPANISH

  • Date: Wednesday – December 9, 2020
  • Time: 8:30 am – 9:30 am (non-supervisory employees)
  • Time: 8:30 am – 10:30 am (supervisory employees)

Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training – ENGLISH

  • Date: Wednesday – December 9, 2020
  • Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (non-supervisory employees)
  • Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (supervisory employees)

For questions, please contact:

Tracy Emmerich
Leap Solutions Group
707-527-0969
info@leapsolutions.com

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Chuck McPherson | May 12, 2019

When workers are in short supply and high demand, it can be tempting for employers to gratefully snatch up any willing candidate with the right background and expertise for a job. But in today’s incredibly tight labor market, that hiring approach is short-sighted; holding out for the right cultural fit can mean all the difference between a ho-hum, get-the-job-done placement and a committed, lasting employee who not only shares but actively contributes to your organization’s mission, vision and growth.

Fit Philosophy

When you hire someone, you don’t invest in a set of skills—you invest in a person. That’s why the recruiting experts at Leap Solutions believe in hiring for cultural fit first and foremost. Job skills matter, of course, but many of those can be taught. Equally as important are the intangibles: a candidate’s personality and character, values and ethics, curiosity and insight, motivation and potential and more. These are the largely un-teachable qualities that determine cultural fitness, and these are the traits that can positively and powerfully impact the success of your organization.

Every hiring opportunity is a chance to build an even more solid, collaborative and diversified team. Someone ideally suited to your organization’s culture will feel at ease with the social customs, working habits, atmosphere, energy and pace of your organization. A great cultural fit is likely to result in a seamless job transition and a longer-term, far more rewarding placement for both employee and employer.

 

Philosophy in Action

Prioritizing cultural fit means seeing positions beyond their obvious and immediate job descriptions and seeing candidates beyond the skills and experience listed on their resumes. That’s why we advise our clients to:

  • Reflect on your culture. You can’t find your best cultural fit without first knowing your culture. When you partner with Leap, we do everything possible to gauge the pulse of your organization and what it takes to thrive there. We provide invaluable outside objectivity and seasoned insight as we guide you in determining the kinds of people who will align with your organization’s core values while bringing fresh enthusiasm and unique perspectives, talents and ideas to your workplace.
  • Establish the non-negotiables. We help you sort the essential job skills, background and qualifications from the desired ones; in many (and perhaps most) cases, there’s more wiggle room than you might think. That said, no matter how much you like a candidate, you can’t settle for anything less than what you genuinely need for success in the role.
  • Be open to train. Don’t miss out on an otherwise ideal candidate by requiring an easily trainable skill or body of knowledge. As you zero in on what you’re truly looking for in an applicant, be realistic about any anticipated needs for coaching, training and/or mentoring to ready that person for the position. As a bonus, you’ll be able to arrange for customized, focused, high-impact learning that can virtually ensure success.
  • See potential. While we might suggest you consider training for certain skills, we’ll encourage you to stay true to the type of person you want. At Leap Solutions, we approach our work from a place of genuine curiosity about every person, and we’re known for our ability to see past what’s on paper—to recognize what’s overblown or undersold on a resume, for instance. We never lose sight of our ultimate goal: to steer you toward the longer-term, perfect-fit hire you deserve.
  • Look to the future. As you begin to make more strategic, thoughtful hiring decisions, you will naturally start to put those decisions into the perspective of bigger-picture issues such as succession planning. Always keeping an eye to the future, savvy employers think about which positions might be opening up down the line and provide the career development and advancement opportunities that allow employees and companies to grow together.

 

  • Interview unconventionally. Assessing skillset can be straightforward, but for a fuller indication of how a candidate might fit into your culture, you’ll want to use creative interview approaches, including behavioral-based questions (“Please share some examples of when you…” or “Tell me about a time this happened to you…”), relevant sample scenarios and role-playing. Don’t be afraid to ask about a candidate’s ideal (and less favorable) culture, communication style, management style and more. The more inquisitive you are, the more fruitful the interview will be.
  • Solidify your impressions. Make the most of reference checks to further explore candidates, speak to any potential concerns, etc. Ask the usual questions about how the candidates perform, how they get along on the team and what particular strengths they offer, and then dig deeper with scenario-based questions (e.g. “What might her approach be if she had to deliver bad news to someone?”) to reveal telling, constructive details that can confirm (or challenge) your perceptions.

Commit to Fit

At Leap Solutions, we appreciate that employers can sometimes feel desperate to fill a position, but we won’t let you settle for anything less than the very best fit for your organization. We’re not in the business of high-volume staffing for high-turnover jobs; we’re committed to intentional, well-planned, optimal-fit placements followed up with all the support they need to thrive. When we hit the mark—and we consistently do!—we can be confident that your new hire and your organization will flourish together, now and well into the future.

 

There’s good recruiting—matching the perfect candidates to their ideal jobs.

And then there’s whole-culture, forward-looking, Leap-style recruiting.

 

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