Client Overview

A community-focused committee representing individuals across multiple organizations and industries came together to proactively address harassment prevention and awareness. The group’s goal was to ensure all participants—from various roles and workplaces—gained practical skills and a clear understanding of how to identify, prevent, and respond to inappropriate behaviors.

With diverse workplace environments and varying degrees of prior training, this session needed to strike a balance between clarity, compliance, empathy, and real-world relevance.

The Challenge

The client requested a one-hour session on Harassment Awareness & Prevention in the Workplace that would:

• Clarify the types of behavior that constitute harassment
• Equip participants to recognize verbal, non-verbal, and environmental cues
• Reinforce the importance of documentation and reporting
• Challenge assumptions and biases around what “counts” as harassment
• Encourage productive, judgment-free dialogue

Our Solution

WorkSpring designed and delivered a customized, high-impact session focused on legal definitions, behavioral awareness, and cultural change. The training included:

• Ground rules for respectful interaction—both during the session and in their own workspaces
• Clear explanation of protected classes, reasonable person standards, and behaviors that may or may not constitute harassment
• Techniques for identifying subtle or covert forms of discrimination or hostility
• Emphasis on documentation, reporting procedures, and leadership accountability
• Tools to self-reflect on unconscious bias and its impact on workplace culture
• Real-world examples and discussion prompts to drive connection and understanding

Highlights

• Opened with shared norms for respectful discussion and cultural ownership
• Addressed key legal frameworks while making them digestible and approachable
• Used relatable examples to illustrate gray areas in workplace behavior
• Facilitated real-time reflection on bias, perspective-taking, and positive influence
• Encouraged leaders and participants to take an active role in shaping safe workplace environments

The Results

• Participants remained highly engaged and connected with the material
• Real-life examples helped make complex or uncomfortable topics more accessible
• Facilitator energy and clarity fostered open dialogue and deeper awareness
• Feedback indicated increased confidence in identifying, addressing, and reporting problematic behavior
• Participants reported a better understanding of how to speak up productively when something doesn’t feel right

Why It Matters

Many people associate harassment only with extreme or obvious acts. But the reality is that subtle, persistent behaviors—when left unchallenged—can erode trust and psychological safety. This session helped participants reframe their role in creating a respectful workplace culture by understanding:

• Harassment isn’t always loud—but it’s always harmful
• Silence or discomfort doesn’t mean incidents don’t happen
• Everyone plays a role in awareness, prevention, and advocacy

The ripple effect of better-informed, more aware individuals across different industries means healthier, safer workplaces—and communities—that are built on respect.

Need customized training for your team?

WorkSpring’s custom training solutions equip your teams with practical tools to lead with confidence, clarity, and care. Contact us at: workspring.org/training/contact-us