“Do Your Employees Feel Safe Reporting Abuse and Discrimination?,” by Lily Zheng

 
Wed 23 June 2021

Make It Safe for Employees to Report Discrimination

Sixty-one percent of U.S. employees say they’ve witnessed or experienced workplace harassment or discrimination based on race, gender, age, and sexuality, yet reporting rates remain extremely low. This is in large part because employees fear that the company will retaliate and further punish or marginalize those who speak up. There are steps you can take as a leader to increase reporting rates at your company — and thereby make it a more equitable, inclusive, and safe place to work. Publicly commit to do better for victims of discrimination, and share the metrics you’ll use to hold leaders and the company accountable. If there’s been a mishandling of an incident in the past, focus on re-earning lost trust. Reach out to any employees who were affected, apologize for harm done, and offer recourse to the extent possible. Invest in external resources, such as a private therapist or an employee assistance program, to support victims who come forward. Establish an ombudsman office that can talk candidly to employees about their concerns and walk them through the reporting options available to them. And make sure that you have anonymous reporting channels that both protect reporters and inform organizational change.
This tip is adapted from “Do Your Employees Feel Safe Reporting Abuse and Discrimination?,” by Lily Zheng

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