Empowering Employees to Intervene: Crafting a Workplace Policy
Crafting an effective bystander intervention policy
Taking a positive step forward to protect your business and employees from sexual harassment and discrimination can be as simple as implementing an effective bystander intervention policy. But, what exactly is this policy? And why should every workplace have a training program for it in place? Read on to find out.
We’ll explain the importance of having a robust bystander intervention approach that ensures everyone feels safe at work..
Defining bystander intervention
Bystander intervention is about ordinary people making a difference in a potentially dangerous situation. It could mean anything from stepping in when someone is harassed on the street to de-escalating a physical confrontation. We talk about basics of bystander intervention training in another blog post here.
In the simplest view, the purpose of bystander intervention is to create a safe and respectful environment for everyone by encouraging individuals to be aware of their surroundings and remain vigilant.
By intervening responsibly, one person can make a big impact on either defusing or even preventing a negative situation from happening. To do this, it is important to understand the context of the situation at hand and not put oneself in danger if possible. Taking action can be as simple as diffusing tension with kind words or simply standing up for somebody else. No matter what form it takes, being an ally always matters when it comes to creating safe spaces for all people.
Why bystander intervention policies are important in the workplace
Bystander intervention policies in the workplace are becoming increasingly important in creating safe, fair, and inclusive environments. Allowing people to take ownership of workplace culture and encouraging them to speak up when they see someone behaving inappropriately can be a powerful tool in proactively maintaining a respectful culture. When employees are empowered with knowledge of what is unacceptable behavior, they can respond quickly and appropriately to potential situations which can help prevent further inappropriate actions or misconduct.
By providing education and clear strategies on how to intervene, employers can give their staff the necessary tools they need to confront any troubling situation they witness at work. The ultimate goal is to create a healthy workplace environment where everyone is respected regardless of background, race, gender, or sexual orientation.
How to create an effective bystander intervention policy
Creating an effective bystander intervention policy is a vital step in combatting dangerous and disruptive behaviors in our communities. To ensure that these policies are successful, it is important to leverage the knowledge of organizational leaders, local law enforcement, public safety agencies, and representatives from regional governing bodies who have significant firsthand experience responding to these issues. An effective policy should include clear language about expectations for bystander behavior, as well as procedures and options for resolving conflict when incidents occur. Additionally, creating opportunities for training around effective communication and de-escalation tactics can help equip bystanders with the necessary skills to appropriately intervene in a potentially sensitive or dangerous situation. With this combined strategy of providing resources and guidance on how to intervene effectively, we can empower bystanders to take positive action when they witness concerning behavior.
An effective bystander intervention policy in the workplace should include the following elements:
Definition of bystander intervention: Clearly define what bystander intervention is and how it can be used to prevent and address harassment, discrimination, and other forms of misconduct in the workplace.
Encouragement to intervene: Encourage employees to intervene when they witness or become aware of potential harassment, discrimination, or other forms of misconduct, and guide how to do so safely and effectively.
Train using Right to Be's 5Ds of intervention:
“Distract” (pretending to know the person being harassed, dropping a drink near the harasser, etc.),
“Delegate” (asking a nearby authority figure for help),
“Delay” (checking in with the harassed person afterward),
“Direct” (verbally confronting the harasser), and
“Document” (recording video of the incident).
3. Training and education: Provide training and education for employees on how to recognize and respond to potential harassment, discrimination, and other forms of misconduct, and how to safely and effectively intervene as a bystander.
4. Reporting procedures: Clearly outline the procedures for reporting incidents of harassment, discrimination, and other forms of misconduct, including the option to report anonymously.
5. Confidentiality: Ensure that any information or discussion related to an incident is kept confidential and that only those who need to know are informed.
6. Support: Provide support for employees who have witnessed or experienced harassment, discrimination, or other forms of misconduct, including counseling services or employee assistance programs.
7. Consequences: Clearly outline the consequences for individuals who engage in harassment, discrimination, or other forms of misconduct, and ensure that appropriate action is taken to address such behavior.
8. Review and revision: Review and revise the policy regularly to ensure that it remains effective and relevant to the workplace.
9. Communication: Communicate the policy to all employees, and provide regular reminders of the policy and its importance.
10. Leadership: Have leadership and management team support, model and enforce the policy.
11. Third-party reporting: Allow employees to report incidents to a third party, such as a hotline or external ombud, if they do not feel comfortable reporting through the usual channels.
The importance of bystander intervention training
Bystander intervention training offers a critical technique to prevent and intervene in violent situations. Through education, bystanders can be equipped with the proper social and emotional skills needed to assess hazardous scenarios before they escalate – directly positively affecting their safety and that of their peers. It teaches people how to spot signs of abuse, ask questions, provide resources, listen actively, and support survivors. By empowering everyone in a community to recognize when something is wrong and step in to help, these social leaders can bring even more awareness to issues such as discrimination and violence – providing an invaluable resource for the community as a whole.
Practical examples of how bystander intervention can improve the workplace
Bystander intervention is an effective tool to help improve the safety, respect, and overall atmosphere in any workplace. When employees are encouraged to look out for one another and take a proactive approach to addressing potentially dangerous or uncomfortable situations, everyone can contribute to a healthier environment. This can include watching out for signs of inappropriate behaviors (such as harassing language or unwanted touching) or unhealthy practices (such as exploiting labor). Through open dialogue, understanding, and mutual accountability the implicit social contract of the workplace can be strengthened. Incorporating activities that reinforce this interaction, such as providing active listening classes or anti-harassment training, will ultimately increase positive outcomes for all involved.
Bystander intervention is an important part of keeping the workplace safe and comfortable for everyone. By having a policy in place, you can ensure that your employees know what to do if they witness or experience harassment or discrimination. Creating an effective bystander intervention policy requires careful consideration of what will work best for your company and its employees.
Providing training on how to intervene can also help ensure that employees feel confident and prepared to take action if needed. When done correctly, bystander intervention can make a positive impact on the workplace environment.
Not only is bystander intervention training good business practice, but certain jurisdictions in the United States are making the training a legal requirement.
Conclusion
Interested in crafting a bystander intervention policy for your workplace or looking for bystander intervention training? Contact Moxie Mediation today to schedule a consultation to discuss our bystander intervention policy drafting and training services.