The California Chamber of Commerce, a business advocate for government in California, was kind enough to remind us that Halloween is an especially vulnerable time in the workplace for sexual harassment due to a more relaxed atmosphere, parties, and revealing costumes.
“During the holidays, there is often a sense of a more relaxed work environment,” said Jessica Hawthorne, an employment attorney with CalChamber. “Work parties, decorations, and Halloween costumes can present some challenges for both employers and employees. It is vital that businesses do everything to equip their employees with proper training and awareness of what is acceptable and what may be considered offensive to others in the workplace.”
CalChamber said that before the holidays is always a good time to review sexual harassment policies, since California requires companies with 50 or more employees to train all supervisory personnel on harassment prevention.
They’re also offering a course for sexual harassment at www.calbizcentral.com/shdemo for those who need to update their requirements.
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