Preventing Harassment with Dr Enya Doyle

Lucinda welcomes Dr. Enya Doyle, known as the "harassment doctor," to discuss effective strategies for preventing harassment in the workplace.

Dr. Doyle shares her background in academic research, particularly her PhD on sexism in classical music, and emphasises the importance of recognising and addressing harassment in all organisational settings, especially in smaller businesses where HR resources may be limited.

The conversation explores the significance of awareness, the role of leadership in fostering a respectful culture, and practical steps for HR professionals to take, including the need for tailored policies and the value of open communication

KEY TAKEAWAYS

It's crucial for HR professionals, especially in smaller organisations, to recognise that harassment can occur anywhere, regardless of the size or culture of the workplace. Silence or lack of reports does not mean that harassment is not happening.

Organisations should regularly examine their cultural norms and practices. Questions like "What would be considered normal behaviour here?" can help identify potentially harmful practices that may be overlooked.

Policies on harassment should reflect the reality of the workplace and be tailored to the specific industry. Generic, cookie-cutter policies are ineffective if they do not address the unique circumstances of the organisation.

Training should not be limited to e-learning; instead, it should involve interactive discussions and real-life examples.

BEST MOMENTS

"It's really important... just because you are a HR department of one doesn't mean that people, individual bad actors or systems aren't going to create an environment where people are going to bully or harass their colleagues."

"If you were to receive a phone call from the police to say that one of your employees had been arrested for sexual assault, who do you not be surprised about?"

"Please don't make your entire harassment prevention strategy e-learning. If you do absolutely nothing else that I've said, please do not make that your entire strategy because it won't work."