Talk to young workers about sexual harassment and cover topics including:
Consent/boundaries.
What constitutes as inappropriate behavior.
What a healthy workplace looks like.
Preventing and responding to harassment.
Setting boundaries/trusting instincts.
Information on mandatory reporting requirements for suspected abuse.
Stigma and victim-blaming
What can Parents do?
Look out for changes in behavior, emotions, and physical signs such as:
Decline in academic performance.
Withdrawal from loved ones and social activities.
Change in personal hygiene habits.
Self-harming behaviors.
Underage drinking/substance abuse.
Unexplained anger, aggression, or mood swings.
Symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Unexplained bruises or physical injuries.
Changes in appetite or weight.
Signs of sexually transmitted infections.
Talking to young workers about sexual harassment:
Why parents should do it:
Helps build trust and openness between parents and young workers, making young workers
more likely to turn to parents with questions or concerns in the future.
How parents should approach the conversation:
Encourage an open dialogue by allowing the child to speak openly without interruption
or judgement.
What should be talked about:
Consent/boundaries.
What constitutes as inappropriate behavior.
What a healthy workplace looks like.
Preventing and responding to harassment.
Setting boundaries/trusting instincts.
How to report sexual harassment.
Stigma and victim-blaming.
Why Don’t young workers Report Harassment?
Fear that nothing will change.
Worries about making the situation worse.
Concerns about staff reactions or thinking it wasn’t “bad enough”.
Harassment happens in private spaces like hallways and online.
Victims fear being blamed or facing worse consequences.
Sometimes, harassment is brushed off as “just a joke”.
What can Employers do?
Revise Training/Onboarding:
Training for adolescent workers should take into consideration that they may have
shorter attention spans, a lack of prior work experience, and a preference for training
that includes technology compared to adult employees.
Make training material engaging, interactive, and repetitive.
Consider placing more effort into socialization during the onboarding process, perhaps
assigning young workers mentors so they have a trusted individual at work they are
comfortable discussing issues with.
Consider inviting parents to training/orientation and ensure they are informed on
how to file a complaint.
Make the Reporting Process Easier for Employees Experiencing Sexual Harassment:
Make it easy for young workers to report sexual harassment and have access to important
information, perhaps through an app that allows them to directly contact human resources.
Have multiple ways to report sexual harassment.
Consider implementing Employee Assistance Programs to help employees manage any additional
distress they might be experiencing while responding to sexual harassment.
