Stalking in the workplace: what action can employers take?

Safety & Health Practitioner

Rachel Griffin, director of Suzy Lamplugh Trust

Last week, we looked at the signs that employers and practitioners should look for to determine whether an employee was being stalked. But if someone is being stalked in your workplace, what action should you take?

Suzy Lamplugh Trust would recommend the following:

• If there is concern that an employee is being stalked it is imperative that the subject is raised in a private location and that senior members of staff use non-threatening/indirect questioning.
• If an employee discloses information about experiencing stalking, their experience must be believed.
• Employers should listen to the employee and take their disclosure seriously, and not make comments/judgments regarding the perpetrator’s behaviour or the victim’s response.
• Employers should respond to a disclosure of stalking by reassuring the employee of confidentiality but highlight the circumstances where confidentiality may have to be broken and information shared with external agencies.
• Employers should provide information about specialist stalking and harassment organisations that can offer expert support.
• Employers should offer practical support within the organisation as far as possible and provide ongoing support to ensure the employee’s safety and wellbeing is monitored.
• Employers should ensure that line managers adopt a sensitive and non-judgmental approach when dealing with employees who have experienced stalking and harassment.
• Employers should carry out a risk assessment with the victim and develop an appropriate workplace safety plan. This should be open to regular reviews.
• If the stalker is another member of staff then appropriate disciplinary action should be taken.

If you have any queries about stalking in the workplace, contact advice@stalkinghelpline.org. Or if you are an employer who would like to learn more about the issue by attending the forthcoming Working Without Fear Conference, London 24^th April, email info@suzylamplugh.org for further information.

The National Stalking Helpline was launched in April 2010 and is managed by Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

Suzy Lamplugh Trust is hosting a seminar at Safety and Health Expo, which takes place at the ExCel Exhibition Centre, London, from 17-19 June. To view the full programme or for further information visit http://www.safety-health-expo.co.uk/.

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