Harassment, Discrimination & Retaliation Prevention
In today’s evolving legal and social landscape, an informed workforce is essential. Employers play a critical role in creating safe, respectful, and inclusive work environments where employees are protected from unlawful and inappropriate conduct, and where bias is mitigated through proactive prevention and prompt remediation.
Under the law, employees are prohibited from engaging in harassment, discrimination, and retaliation based on a range of legally protected categories. These protections are established under federal law and often expanded under state and local laws. Protected categories may include, but are not limited to: sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, religion, age, disability, marital status, civil union status, and domestic partnership status.
One of the most effective ways that employers can prevent unlawful conduct and reduce bias is by implementing robust policies and procedures, reinforced by ongoing education and training.
TRAINING & EDUCATION
KSB Law offers live, interactive training sessions focused on preventing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation – topics that remain critical in today’s evolving legal and social landscape.
The Firm is committed to developing innovative, engaging training programs facilitated by experienced attorney-trainers. These sessions are tailored to create interactive, meaningful learning experiences that resonate with employees at all levels of an organization.
Training includes:
- A review of the employer’s policies and procedures
- Legal definitions of protected conduct and activity and what constitutes harassment, discrimination, and retaliation
- Interactive discussions using real-world examples of problematic conduct and fact-based scenarios
- Practical exercises to help employees understand workplace boundaries, avoid inappropriate conduct, and navigate challenging issues related to off-duty conduct
Additional topics covered:
- Implicit bias and microaggression awareness
- Bystander intervention strategies
- The importance of civility, professionalism, and respect in the workplace
- The harmful effects of bullying, toxic behavior, and intimidation
Our goal is to empower employees to foster a respectful workplace culture and recognize their role in preventing and addressing misconduct.
TRAINING FOR LEADERS/MANAGERS
KSB Law offers specialized training for leaders and managers, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to navigate an array of challenges and their unique responsibilities in promoting a respectful and legally compliant workplace.
This advanced training covers:
- The benefits of proactive leadership in preventing, addressing, and remediating problematic conduct
- Key challenges and legal obligations faced by supervisors and managers
- Managerial duties related to identifying, addressing, and escalating concerns
- Supervisory obligations and best practices for responding to complaints, protected activity, and observed or heard of misconduct
- The importance of modeling appropriate behavior and fostering a culture of accountability
Managers leave the session with a deeper understanding of their critical role in maintaining a safe and inclusive workplace—and the potential risks of inaction or missteps.
ONE-ON-ONE REMEDIAL COACHING
KSB Law offers individualized, attorney-led coaching sessions for employees who have engaged in inappropriate workplace conduct, including harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. These sessions are also available for managers or supervisors who have failed to appropriately address or escalate complaints related to such conduct.
Each confidential coaching session is tailored to the specific misconduct at issue and is designed to:
- Enable participants to understand the impact of their conduct
- Encourage behavioral changes and accountability
- Reinforce respectful and lawful workplace conduct
- Review applicable workplace policies, procedures, and expectations
For managers and supervisors, coaching also emphasizes their legal and policy obligations to recognize, respond to, and escalate complaints and concerns involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other unlawful or inappropriate conduct, ensuring that they fulfill their critical role in maintaining workplace compliance and safety.
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
KSB Law assists organizations in developing and implementing effective policies and procedures that support the prevention of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
Key elements of well-crafted policies include:
- Clear definitions of prohibited conduct
- Specific guidance on how and where to report concerns
- Multiple reporting channels for accessibility and confidentiality
- Defined consequences for policy violations
- A statement of the employer’s commitment to prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations of complaints
- Strict prohibitions against retaliation
Well-structured policies, combined with regular training and enforcement, serve as the foundation for a respectful and legally compliant workplace.
