Oct 21 2009
David Perecman Urges Companies to Learn How to Speak to Employees about Sexual Harassment at Work
New York construction accident lawyer David Perecman issued a pointed warning today to employers who might turn a blind eye to sexual harassment in the workplace:
The prominent New York construction accident lawyer said sexual harassment can also be found in places not typically associated with discrimination cases, such as rough-and-tumble New York construction sites. In a recent case the New York Daily News reported on involved Bianca Wisniewski, a project safety coordinator, and Steve Greco, an elevator engineer, who worked at the same site as Wisniewski, she charges that Greco groped and propositioned her repeatedly against her will, while her employer did nothing despite her pleas for help.
“Employees need to grasp the serious nature of sexual harassment,” the New York construction accident lawyer said. “Companies should learn how to speak to employees about sexual harassment at work.”
The place to start, Perecman suggests, is the development of a very visible document that address the following general points of conduct:
-- A commitment to eradicate and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
-- A definition of sexual harassment that recognizes the two different sets of legal grounds for an employee to claim sexual harassment:
1. Quid pro quo, where a person in authority demands sexual favors of a subordinate as a condition of their employment
2. Hostile work environment, defined as generally unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
-- An explanation of penalties which the employer will impose for substantiated sexual harassment behavior.
-- A detailed outline of grievance procedures employees should follow.
-- A commitment to keep all sexual harassment complaints and personnel actions confidential.
Source: http://www.perecman.com/