Sexual intimidation is unwanted sexual behavior. It can happen between colleagues or between employees and managers. Sexual discrimination is sometimes difficult to recognize. It can happen on purpose but also unintentionally. Sometimes something begins with innocent flirting or a joke. But what is innocent for one person can be intimidating, hurtful, shameful or annoying for another.
What can you do about sexual intimidation?
Sexual intimidation is a sensitive and loaded topic, which goes hand in hand with incomprehension and shame. There is often insufficient knowledge of how to handle sexual intimidation and on top of this the topic is privacy sensitive. For this reason, discussing and influencing sexual intimidation is often more difficult than is the case with bullying.
Prevention is better than cure! Recognize the signs early and make red lines and norms topics for discussion.
The points below can help with your approach:
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Set a good example. Be aware of how your behavior can affect colleagues and as management and a manager show how it should be done.
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Support the person who has been sexually intimidated. The loaded nature of the topic ensures that sexual discrimination will not be discussed as quickly. Know therefore what is going on among colleagues and recognize changes in behavior (the person could become more withdrawn and gloomy). Make such signs a topic for discussion, offer a listening ear and look for solutions together. Make the person causing the problem aware of the consequences of his or her behavior.
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Ensure clarity over the process and where employees can go if they have questions or want to make a report. Rules on behavior could help here. You can find these at www.marelsamensterk.nl. Here you will also find more information on persons of confidence within Marel.