News
Sexual Harassment 101
BY
Carol Wood
How to handle sexual harassment claims can be overwhelming and terrifying for every business — from small local drug stores to large corporations serving the market. But it shouldn’t be. Regrettably, at some point, some who run these stores may become aware of sexual harassment. Here are a few tips that will help you address sexual harassment quickly and successfully.
First off, what constitutes sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment means, simply, unwanted sexual advances in the workplace. One type of sexual harassment is “quid pro quo,” meaning “this for that.” This is what people most think of when they think of sexual harassment. These would be situations where sexual favors are expected for employment actions. “If you don’t sleep with me, I’ll fire you” would be a textbook example of quid pro quo sexual harassment. The other type of sexual harassment is creating a “hostile work environment.” A hostile work environment is where employees around you create an environment with unwanted sexual content. For example, if an employee posts pictures of women in bathing suits, it may create a “hostile work environment” for female employees in the office.
Sexual harassment is likely to happen. As we are now reading in the news, sexual harassment affects every industry — from the media to politics to business. Typical HR departments do receive many complaints. A conservative rule of thumb is to estimate on average one sexual harassment complaint a year for every 50 employees. If you have 10 employees, within five years it is likely you will receive a complaint.
Documenting a complaint
protects you
The No. 1 mistake that managers make with sexual harassment is avoiding it. I have seen many managers receive a complaint, quickly determine the complaint does not justify more action and then dismiss the issue without documenting the complaint or the rationale for dismissing the issue. Say an employee is complaining that she does not want to be scheduled with another employee. He’s always asking her out for a date, and it is making her uncomfortable — what should you do?
While it might seem minor, it should be treated as a complaint of sexual harassment and be documented and investigated. Documenting a complaint doesn’t mean it is definitely harassment. It simply enables the manager to track the facts: whether or not harassment occurred or if there is even sufficient evidence to conclude it is harassment. Remember, it is the manager’s obligation not only to protect the business but also the people involved. So, you are better off documenting even the most minor incidents rather than brushing them off.
Resolve potential harassment issues before making any accommodations
Well-meaning managers sometimes alter the employee shifts or schedules in an attempt to resolve a harassment complaint, but that could be seen as retaliatory action against an employee who has made a complaint.
Here is an example of steps retailers might take to resolve the issue:
- Conducting a prompt and thorough investigation into the complaint that maintains the confidentiality of those involved as much as you can. The investigation does not need to be more than talking one-on-one to the parties involved and to any apparent witnesses to determine facts.
- Disciplining the harasser and/or requiring the person to participate in training, depending on what you find.
- Reminding the person being investigated that he or she must not retaliate in any way against the complainant.
- Documenting the investigation and the action taken.
- Make sure you document each of these steps. Often any one of these steps puts an end to the issue and improves the working environment for your employees. If the harassment continues, more serious action may be required.
- Should you receive or become aware of a potential harassment complaint, address it head on.
By adhering to a strict rule of documenting the facts of even complaints that are determined to be invalid, you can protect your employees and your business.
Carol Wood is the people operations director overseeing HR at Home-
base (www.joinhomebase.com) in
San Francisco.
News
Editor’s note: Catching the consumers’ eye
Retail is not dead; boring retail is dead.
That is what industry guru, Mack Elevation Forum founder and DSN partner Dan Mack told a packed house at the 19th annual Drug Store News Industry Issues Summit at New York City’s Plaza Hotel in late November. Moderating a panel of executives from such top retailers as CVS Pharmacy, Target, Walmart, Walgreens and Sam’s Club, Mack challenged them to explain to the audience what they were doing to remain relevant.
Mack is right on. If you do not start thinking outside the box now. your business will not survive in an increasingly complicated and competitive retail marketplace. Perhaps, more than ever before, traditional retailers must put their thinking caps on and develop merchandising and marketing strategies that will intrigue, yes, even seduce, consumers enough to stop staring at their computer screens and get into the car to go shopping.
To put it another way, the days of putting products on store shelves in a neat and orderly fashion, offering good — maybe even great prices and watching products fly into shopping carts is long over.
Do I need to make this point again?
With digital companies breathing down the necks of traditional merchants, and consumers collectively developing an acute case of attention deficient disorder spurred on by the likes of Amazon and others, now is the time for retailers to implement strategies that make their stores more and more interesting for consumers to shop. Increasingly, that means doing more than just offering products to consumers. As Mack and some of his panelists discussed, retailers, with the help of their suppliers, must develop programs that make consumers want — not necessarily need — to visit their retail chains.
That can mean many things. Some are as simple as in-store lighting, equipment and displays that make it easier for consumers to shop. Others are offering services to shoppers that encourage them to visit the store for something completely out of the ordinary. A third is to make the store a sort of neighborhood meeting place, where people can spend time chatting with each other.
Notice I am not talking about price points, product assortment and checkout speed. Those factors should all be accounted for at this point — if you are running your chain correctly. Now it is time to focus on what makes shoppers happy and eager to visit a store.
Trust me, if you do not do it, the guy down the street will. It is just a question of who wins over the consumer first and best.
News
SlimFast gives a ‘Booster’ to dieting success with new line of supplements
SlimFast last week introduced four new Boosters, SlimFast-branded diet aid supplements, to perfectly complement the SlimFast Plan.
“The new SlimFast Boosters really help with any diet, not just the SlimFast Plan, especially when food temptations come around,” stated Chris Tisi, CEO SlimFast. “Straying from your diet, which is inevitable, shouldn’t leave you feeling guilty. This just makes it harder to stay on track. Now with SlimFast Boosters, people can feel good about achieving their weight loss goals even if they give in and have some dessert.”
The four new SKUs include Craving Control Gummies Booster, which is available in a mixed berry flavor and helps to satisfy cravings and lose weight faster with green tea and garcinia. Fat Cutter Booster and Carb Cutter Booster are great allies to cheat fats and carbs respectively, without quitting on a weight loss plan. Fat Cutter is ideal for fatty meals, which is especially great when eating out, and during the holiday season. Carb Cutter works by limiting carb and sugar absorption and reducing calorie uptakes and works with all low carb diets.
And the Energy + Metabolism Booster is a great way to kick-start a person's metabolism and burn more calories. This booster helps increase energy with the power of green tea, and helps convert sugar into energy with garcinia cambogia extract.
These new boosters are easy to incorporate into the clinically proven SlimFast Plan – one sensible meal, two SlimFast meal replacements, and three 100-calorie snacks. They can simply be taken in addition to the already easy-to-follow diet plan. Alternatively, SlimFast Boosters can be used as part of an individuals own “DIY” weight loss plan.
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