To err is human– and that plays out every day in the workplace. What makes mistakes costly is the failure to respond. Case after case tells us that how managers react to employee concerns matters. This latest $414,000 lawsuit reminds us of that:
The EEOC brought an action against Walmart because employees who complained about sexual harassment were ignored for years. In particular, one employee was told to “stand up” for herself and “put on her big girl panties.” Ouch.
Not my workplace you say? Unless you are regularly training your managers, you cannot be sure. Do not assume that front-line managers are aware of their duties and responsibilities to employees. Oftentimes managers think handling matters at their level shows competence. Make sure your managers know your policies and handbook inside and out. Walmart can afford a $500,000 ding from the EEOC and some bad PR–but most places cannot.
Questions? Need training? We can help.