Although harassment and discrimination continue to be a problem in Pennsylvania’s workplaces, there are steps that you can take as an employer to protect your employees and yourself from legal action. For example, you can provide your employees with routine training on discriminatory and harassing behaviors so that they know how to spot them and bring them to a stop. But another often overlooked document that can provide a lot of value is your company’s code of conduct.
How can a code of conduct help protect your business?
A code of conduct can do a lot to protect your business from allegations of wrongdoing when it comes to discrimination and harassment. Here are some ways that your code of conduct can shield you from future litigation:
- Aligning your company policies and practices with state and federal law.
- Establishing guidelines for how your employees are expected to act.
- Specifying reporting procedures when discrimination or harassment occurs.
- Articulating your business’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment stance.
- Creating a document that requires your employees to acknowledge these policies.
- Demonstrating your commitment to diversity and fairness in the workplace.
With a strong code of conduct in place, you can combat allegations that your business has fostered an environment where discrimination and harassment persist. This, in turn, can give you extensive legal protection, and it puts you in a stronger position to hold wayward employees accountable for their actions.
Draft an effective code of conduct for your business
Creating a code of conduct may seem simple, but you’ll want to be careful with the language that you use and the provisions that you include. Otherwise, you could miss something that leaves you vulnerable to legal action, or you could say something that makes your business looks some way that you didn’t intend.
So, if you need to create a code of conduct or want to revamp an existing one, then you should consider reading more about the topic and finding any additional help that you may need.