Step 1 - Assess risks
In cooperation with the employees, identify the risks in the workplace and implement preventive measures
Risks of sexual harassment
In cooperation with the employees and the safety representative (“verneombud”, VO), the employer must identify all the risk factors in the workplace and make a plan for preventive measures as well as a plan for implementing these measures.
This also applies to the risk of sexual harassment. The identification and risk assessment must be conducted in cooperation with the safety representative (VO) or employees’ representatives. The employer may also request assistance from the occupational health service (BHT) or others with expertise in this field.
Three simple questions form the core of the risk assessment:
- What can go wrong in our workplace?
- What can we do to prevent this?
- What can we do to reduce the consequences if this happens?
The risk of sexual harassment affects people differently. The employer should therefore, in cooperation with the employees, consider measures that protect those who are in greatest need of protection.
Factors that increase the risk of sexual harassment, working situations that are particularly hazardous and employees who are most vulnerable:
Risk factors:
- Factors that make it difficult for employees to tell someone about harassment without being afraid of the consequences
- Negative attitudes to groups, for example women and immigrants
- Alcohol in the workplace or in connection with work
- Sexualised culture and jargon in the workplace
- Blurred boundaries between work and personal life
- Lack of systematic occupational health and safety procedures
Risk situations:
- Evening and night shifts
- Work involving serving of alcoholic beverages
- Work involving close contact with clients, guests or customers
- Working alone. This applies both to cases where one is alone at work and to specific working situations where one works alone.
- Social settings at work, or work travel where there may be unclear boundaries between work and personal life
- Work situations where clients, guests or customers “feel at home” and “forget” that employees are at work
Risk groups:
- Temporary and part-time employees
- Young employees, particularly women
- Apprentices and trainees
- Employees who are of a minority or are perceived as such
Link to the quidance of risk identification and action plan (Norwegian)
Examples of risk identification/assessment and proposed measures for the hotel and catering sector
Six steps
- to prevent and deal with sexual harassment
Course overview
(Courses are in Norwegian)
Webinar in collaboration with the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
Massage
A young IT consultant is summoned by a female colleague to provide IT support. While he is examining her PC, she begins massaging him. He backs away and laughs it off.
What would you have done?
She’s gorgeous!
You are going to supervise a new student (a trainee). Before she arrives, some employees check out her pictures on Facebook and comment on how good-looking she is. Their remarks become gradually more detailed. This continues during the whole of her trainee period, but no-one says anything about it to her
What would you have done?
Infatuated colleague
Lars is training a new colleague. He has made good contact with her and becomes romantically attracted to her. He gives her compliments and invites her out for a beer. She declines, but this only makes him more keen, and he won’t take no for an answer.
What would you have done?
Snapchat
After an enjoyable Friday beer, Hanne receives a snap of a colleague’s genitals.
What would you have done?
Workseminar
Two colleagues are sitting chatting in the bar in the evening at a work seminar. The senior of the two is clearly flirting, and invites his younger colleague to his room, to which she declines with a smile. A moment later, she feels his hand on her bottom.
What would you have done?
Extra pillow
A room attendant is delivering an extra pillow to a hotel room. When she opens the door, a man is sitting naked on the bed, and makes no attempt to cover himself.
What would you have done?
Comments on your appearance
You work at a call centre and, when you give your full name, some customers check out your Facebook profile during the conversation and comment on your appearance.
What would you have done?
Kiss on the neck
A plumber calls at the house of a female customer and notices that she is skimpily dressed. While he is working, she suddenly kisses him on the neck.
What would you have done?
Flirt or threat?
A female worker goes to find something in a storage room on a construction site. When she enters the room, she sees a man from another firm standing talking on the telephone. As she passes him, she hears him say: Ooh, here comes a lovely lady, but she’s carrying a knife so I won’t try anything.
What would you have done?
Nude pictures at work
There are nude pictures on the wall at work.
What would you have done?
Too young for me
The manager says to his young employee, “You are lovely, but too young for me.”
What would you have done?