Do I need to do anything when employees come to me to vent?

by | Apr 16, 2025 | Business Tips, Harassment, Human Resources

It depends on what they’re venting about. If they’re complaining about conduct that might be illegal, such as harassment or threats of violence, you’ll need to investigate. This is true even if the employee asks you not to take action. If the situation doesn’t pertain...

What does “quid pro quo” mean in the context of workplace harassment?

by | Apr 1, 2025 | Harassment

Quid pro quo—a Latin phrase meaning “this for that”—refers to a specific type of unlawful sexual harassment. Quid pro quo harassment can occur in two ways: The harasser promises an employee or applicant a promotion, raise, or other positive employment change in...

Do we need to conduct an investigation if one of our employees has accused another employee of harassment at a non-work event?

by | Oct 23, 2023 | Harassment, Human Resources

Answered by the HR Experts: Absolutely. It is important to remember that not all interactions between employees take place at work, and these non-work interactions can ultimately affect the workplace, potentially contributing to a hostile work environment. For...

An employee came to us with a harassment complaint but said they didn’t want us to do anything about it. Do we have to do an investigation?

by | Feb 17, 2023 | Harassment, Human Resources

Answer from Sergio, SHRM-CP: Yes, you should still investigate the complaint. Not investigating could expose you to legal risk if more employees come forward with complaints, if the employee later decides to take their complaint to a state or federal agency, or if the...

An employee allegedly made a racially insensitive comment in the presence of a coworker. How should we respond?

by | Aug 21, 2022 | Harassment, Human Resources

Answer from Kyle, PHR: You need to investigate the matter. A racially insensitive comment could be considered harassment—unwelcome behavior that’s based on a protected class such as race. Harassment becomes unlawful if putting up with it is a condition of continued...

An employee is requesting copies of their harassment complaint and investigation files. How should I respond?

by | May 22, 2022 | Harassment

Answer from Emily, MBA, SPHR: It depends. You can certainly share a copy of the original complaint with the person who filed it. You can also tell them about the general results and let them know whom they should speak to if the harassment continues. You shouldn’t...