Do you employ teenage workers? If so, it’s important to take a look at what you can do to ensure young people are safe from workplace harassment and know how to report problems that do occur. Here are some tips from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on preventing harassment and discrimination involving young workers:
- Encourage open, positive and respectful interactions with young workers.
- Remember that awareness, through early education and communication, is the key to prevention.
- Establish a strong corporate policy for handling complaints.
- Provide alternate avenues to report complaints and identify appropriate staff to contact.
- Encourage young workers to come forward with concerns and protect employees who report problems or otherwise participate in EEO investigations from retaliation.
- Post company policies on discrimination and complaint processing in visible locations, such as near the time clock or break area, or include the information in a young worker’s first paycheck.
- Clearly communicate, update, and reinforce discrimination policies and procedures in a language and manner young workers can understand.
- Provide early training to managers and employees, especially front-line supervisors.
- Consider hosting an information seminar for the parents or guardians of teens working for the organization.
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