Complaint Filing Procedures for Supervisors

Your procedures on what to do after receiving a complaint should be in your company's anti-harassment policies. Make sure that these are detailed: Take into consideration the severity of the claim and what your procedures are for each.

For example, the University of California has two options for filing. Here is the first one.

"Early Resolution: Employees may request informal resolution or mediation before filing an oral or written formal report of sexual harassment under these procedures. While early informal resolution is not mandatory prior to initiating a formal report, the Laboratory's goal is to resolve such concerns at the earliest stage possible, with the cooperation of all involved parties. Early informal resolution may include mediation, separation of the parties, conducting educational/sensitivity training, etc. Steps taken and agreements reached during the early resolution procedure are to be documented."

"The Manager of EEO/AA or designee may determine that some reports of sexual harassment may not be appropriate for early resolution and may require a formal investigation."

Here is the University of California's second option for sexual harassment complaints (a formal investigation).

"Formal Investigation: An employee may initiate a formal investigation of a report of sexual harassment by filing an oral or written request for such action with the Manager of EEO/AA or designee, who will proceed with such an investigation if the report of sexual harassment is deemed as not appropriate for Early Resolution. All reports will remain confidential except for the fact that a report has been filed and the identity of the complainant may be disclosed to the person accused. In cases where there is no written request, the Manager of EEO/AA or designee may initiate a formal investigation after making a preliminary inquiry into the facts."

Make sure you know what your company's policies are and your role in the complaint process.

To learn more about Sexual Harassment Prevention Training For Supervisors visit our Cal/OSHA Sexual Harassment Prevention Training For Supervisors Online Training web page.