Workplace Compliance News & Resources

Who: Construction employers

When: Effective immediately

On June 18, 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released additional guidance on preventing workplace harassment in the construction industry. The guidance recommends that construction employers adopt certain core practices, but states that those practices could also be helpful in other industries. The practices include:

• Committed and engaged leadership;
• Consistent and demonstrated accountability;
• Strong and comprehensive harassment policies;
• Trusted and accessible complaint procedures; and
• Regular, interactive training tailored to the audience and the organization.

The guidance asks employers to monitor the actions of their subcontractors and staffing agencies to ensure they are adhering to their harassment prevention commitments and to provide resources to their subcontractors as necessary. The EEOC points out that a successful harassment prevention program relies on leadership’s consistent and demonstrated commitment to maintaining a culture where harassment is unacceptable. It’s important to clearly and frequently communicate that message to employees.

The guidance describes the elements employers should include in a comprehensive anti-harassment policy and provides guidance on how and where to communicate the policy. The guidance explains the elements of a good complaint procedure and system and how the general contractor can oversee and coordinate that process. Employers should provide multiple channels to report complaints. Lastly, the guidance describes best practices for providing anti-harassment training.

How:

• Ensure your harassment prevention policies, procedures, and training align with the recommended practices.

Additional Resources:

Promising Practices for Preventing Harassment in the Construction Industry