Part of Lesson Plan: Do NOT Cross The Line!

Activity Overview / Details

Today’s objective is to define harassment, know what information employers must include in a company policy, understand the risks to business, and understand the importance of educating employees. Finally, the student will learn the laws that protect them from all types of harassment and how to deal with uncomfortable workplace situations.  It is more important than ever before for employers to know how to minimize the chance of being held liable for harassment that violates federal and state discrimination laws.  What applies to sexual harassment can easily be applied to other forms of harassment that violate discrimination laws, such as racial, ethnic, religious, age-based, and disability-based harassment.  In all cases, liability can, under some circumstances, be unavoidable, and in other situations, it can be avoided, but in all instances, if proper steps are taken, it can be minimized.

Show and Discuss the Harassment PowerPoint - Slides 1 -23

Due to three key Supreme Court decisions on sexual harassment in 1998 (Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Elierth, 524 U.S. 742 (1998); Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998); and Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 524 U.S. 75 (1998), it is more important than ever before for employers to know how to minimize the chance of being held liable for harassment that violates federal and state discrimination laws, such as racial, ethnic, religious, age-based, and disability-based harassment.  In all cased, liability can, under some circumstances, be unavaoidable, and in other situations, it can be avoided, but in all instances, if proper steps are taken, it can be minimized.