Why have a general harassment policy?

All forms of harassment in the workplace, whether based on sex, gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability, are prohibited law. The EEOC (the agency that enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) has issued proposed guidelines for harassment in the workplace. In addition, an effective policy can provide the basis for an affirmative defense in an action alleging sexual harassment by a supervisor.

Your company may wish to have a policy prohibiting all forms of harassment in the workplace. One advantage to a general harassment prohibition is that it takes some of the stigma away from the employee who finds the need to accuse another employee of harassment of a sexual nature. It is the inappropriate nature of the conduct rather than the sexual nature of the conduct that is being reported. Also, the EEOC recommends that employers establish anti-harassment policies and complaint procedures covering all forms of unlawful harassment.