Tips and tools

dignity: harassment and discrimination :
Tips and tools

Tips and Tools

General principles for stopping inappropriate behavior

General principles for stopping inappropriate behavior

1 The following principles apply to all forms of inappropriate behavior, i.e.

if a staff member believes that someone has behaved disrespectfully towards her/him;
if a staff member believes that she/he may have behaved disrespectfully towards someone; or
if a staff member is contacted by someone who has been the object of disrespectful behavior.

2 If a staff member believes that someone has behaved disrespectfully towards her/him, she/he should:

not deny that something has happened – trust her/his instincts;
not assume that the behavior will stop if it is ignored;
not be afraid to speak up; if she/he would find it easier, she/he should put the complaint in writing
not try to deal with severe forms of offensive behavior alone; even at the first occurrence, she/he should ask for help and for the appropriate avenues of assistance;
document every incident in detail if the offensive behavior recurs; find witnesses and gather other evidence from current and former colleagues;
file a formal complaint, if necessary.

3 If a staff member believes that she/he may have behaved disrespectfully towards someone, she/he should:

approach the person and ask if the behavior was offensive; if so, stop the behavior;
apologize – it can go a long way to mending a damaged relationship.

4 If a staff member is contacted by someone who has been the object of disrespectful behavior, she/he should:

listen and give support;
not judge the situation or how the person has handled it;
encourage the person to tell the offender in a rational, objective way that her/his behavior is objectionable;
tell the person not to ignore the situation or her/his feelings;
refer the person to a suitable advisor in the Center.