Allegations of any type of harassment need to be taken seriously. They are also one of the hardest things to investigate and settle. The best course of action is to ask questions of everyone involved.
Complainant – start for asking for details, who, what , when, where, how. Follow that with additional questions of their reaction, was their job affected, was anyone else present, was anyone else harassed, is there any physical evidence. End the questioning with asking them how they would like this to be resolved.
Alleged Harasser – ask their version of what happened and their response to the allegation. If they claim the allegation is false, question why the complainant might have lied. Also ask them for any physical evidence or others present.
Witness – when there are reported witnesses ask them what they saw or heard and what the complainant or alleged harasser might have told you and when.
Once everyone has been questioned, you now have the task of deciding the next steps. This may involve various personnel actions from written warnings, terminations, changing supervisors, training, or other needed actions.
The most important thing is not to ignore any of these allegations or delay them.
For assistance with this or other personnel concerns, contact CyQuest today!