Responding to Harassment or Abusive Conduct (NY)

Creating and maintaining a respectful workplace is a shared responsibility. While company policies and leadership play a vital role, the actions of individual employees when they witness inappropriate behavior can make the most immediate impact. Knowing how to respond safely and effectively is a powerful skill for every team member.

This module is designed to empower your employees with practical strategies for action. It will help them learn what steps to take if they observe harassment or abusive conduct, thereby improving their professional environment. This training aligns with the principles of bystander intervention, a key component of harassment prevention under New York State and New York City law.

Why This Training is Important for Your Employees

In New York, laws like the NYSHRL and NYCHRL strongly encourage creating a culture where harassment is not tolerated by anyone. When employees feel equipped to respond to misconduct, it helps stop harmful behavior in its tracks and supports those who are targeted.

This training is important because it provides your employees with a clear framework for action:

• Understanding the Role of a Bystander: The module explains that a bystander is anyone who witnesses harassment or abusive conduct. It emphasizes that their action — or inaction — can significantly influence the outcome of a situation.
• Overcoming Hesitation: It addresses common reasons people hesitate to intervene, such as fear of retaliation, uncertainty about the situation, or the belief that someone else will handle it (the "bystander effect").
• Providing Safe & Practical Response Options: The core of the training focuses on a range of intervention strategies, often known as the "5 Ds," allowing employees to choose a method that fits the situation and their comfort level:
  
  1. Direct: Safely speaking up directly to the person engaging in the misconduct (e.g., "That comment isn't appropriate here.").
  2. Distract: Indirectly de-escalating the situation by creating a distraction, such as interrupting the conversation with a work-related question or spilling a drink.
  3. Delegate: Reporting the situation to someone with authority, such as a supervisor, HR representative, or security personnel.
  4. Delay: Checking in with the person who was targeted after the incident to offer support and ask how you can help.
  5. Document: Taking notes on what was said and done (date, time, location, individuals involved) to help with a potential investigation.
• Emphasizing Safety First: The training makes it clear that employees should never intervene in a way that puts their safety at risk. The goal is to provide options, not to mandate confrontation.

Without this training, employees may want to help but lack the confidence or knowledge to do so effectively. This module provides a clear toolkit that empowers them to become active allies in maintaining a respectful workplace.

Benefits of This Module for Your Organization

Adaptive Security’s Responding to Harassment or Abusive Conduct module is designed to transform your employees from passive observers into a supportive network of active bystanders.

By empowering your entire workforce with these skills, you can significantly enhance your workplace culture. Key benefits of this module for your organization include:

• Fulfills New York's Bystander Intervention Training Mandate: Directly addresses a key component of the state's required annual training on preventing sexual harassment.
• Fosters an Active "Speak-Up, Step-Up" Culture: Creates a powerful deterrent to misconduct when potential harassers know that their behavior is likely to be called out or reported by colleagues.
• Reduces Incidents of Harassment & Bullying: Early and effective bystander intervention can stop negative behaviors before they escalate into more serious or pervasive hostile work environment issues.
• Increases Psychological Safety & Employee Support: Team members feel safer and more supported when they know their colleagues have their backs, which improves morale and team cohesion.
• Provides Clear, Safe, and Actionable Options: Offers employees a range of tools, enabling them to choose a safe way to make a positive impact, thereby reducing the burden on both the target and management.
• Reinforces Your Organization's Zero-Tolerance Policy: Demonstrates a deep and practical commitment to maintaining a respectful environment, moving beyond policy to everyday action.

This essential training empowers every employee to be a partner in creating and maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for all.