Build Successful Anti-harassment Programs With New Prevention Guide, Expert Investigations Manual From CCH

(Riverwoods, ILL., March 1, 2000) – A well-implemented anti-harassment policy, including an effective procedure for investigating allegations, can be a powerful shield when a company has to defend itself against sexual harassment lawsuits, according to CCH INCORPORATED (CCH), a leading provider of human resources law information and software. To help businesses implement effective policies against sexual harassment, CCH is offering two new practical guidance resources – Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Practical Guide by the employment law experts of Jackson Lewis and Sexual Harassment Investigations Manual by human resources consultant Marcia Haight. (To order call 1-888-224-7377, or for more information visit http://hr.cch.com.)

Delivering straightforward action plans and practical advice from human resources law experts, the new loose-leaf guides from CCH provide businesses with clear roadmaps to demonstrable and effective compliance with anti-harassment laws and step-by-step guidance to those on the frontlines of harassment investigations.

Effective Policy, Investigations, Vital to Harassment Defense

The lack of a policy, poor implementation or ineffectual investigations can expose companies to significant liabilities for the harassing actions of employees – even if they did not know about them. Yet, in two significant recent decisions, the Supreme Court made it clear that a company’s adoption of an effective anti-harassment program and its diligence in following up on complaints can avert or lessen sanctions, according to Michael J. Lotito, a partner in Jackson Lewis and contributor to Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment.

"The court has also made it clear, however, that a company that has not successfully implemented an anti-harassment policy can be precluded from defending itself when an employee engages in sexual harassment – even if no one in upper management was aware of the situation," Lotito said.

Lotito, recognized as one of the country's foremost experts in employment and labor law, will address the 2000 HumanAssets.org® conference in New York City on March 3, 2000 on "What Every Corporate Official Should Know About the High Cost of Sexual Harassment." Lotito is the 2000 Chairman of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

New Guide is Comprehensive, Action-Oriented

Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Practical Guide is a comprehensive, action-oriented planning and emergency-response resource for human resources professionals and corporate counsel.

The Guide begins with an overview of Title VII, related laws and regulations, recent cases and trends. In non-technical language, it clarifies the issues of quid-pro-quo, unwelcome conduct, hostile environments and office romances.

The Guide uses cases to illustrate policies and procedures and to help guide an organization’s efforts in introducing new preventative sexual harassment measures, with over 30 real-life scenarios covering virtually any situation that can occur in the workplace.

Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Practical Guide then takes you through the process of identifying key issues, understanding the law and responding to a complaint.

The Guide presents these specific fact patterns in an easy-to-understand format and gives practical advice and guidance for each specific situation. How companies should handle complaints of sexual harassment is addressed in depth, from initial "who to call" considerations through appropriate responses based on investigative findings.

Throughout, the Guide is filled with practical, instructional features such as quick-reference summaries of chapter contents, in-depth studies derived from actual cases, checklists, FAQs and sample policies.

The role of alternative dispute resolution is also discussed, and non-litigators are provided with an overview of the litigation process and how they can best work with outside counsel.

Investigations Manual Provides How-To Knowledge, Tools

The Sexual Harassment Investigations Manual, by Marcia Haight, is the perfect complement to Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment. The Investigations Manual is sharply focused on the investigative process and is written with the immediate needs of the investigator in mind. The one-volume, loose-leaf resource spells out every detail of harassment investigations, step by step, with an eye toward effective resolution and solid documentation.

Chapters on investigation tools, conducting investigations, documentation and communications focus on the detailed steps needed to investigate allegations and are filled with practical tools such as sample memos and interview guides.

The added complexities of conducting investigations in the context of union contracts and with the possible complication that harassment has transgressed criminal law are also addressed. Additional chapters present relevant EEOC guidelines and Supreme Court decisions, as well as key recent rulings of state supreme courts and federal appeals courts.

Sexual Harassment Investigations Manual author Marcia Haight is president of Haight Consulting, a human resources consulting firm. A nationally acknowledged author of employer compliance kits, Haight has nearly 40 years experience in helping employers comply with laws affecting employees.

Keeping Current

Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Practical Guide and Sexual Harassment Investigations Manual each are updated with a quarterly news bulletin featuring practice tips, case studies, expert interviews, checklists and more.

Comprehensive Coverage From CCH

The two new practical guides Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment and Sexual Harassment Investigations Manual complement CCH’s suite of authoritative, practical resources for companies looking to ensure they avoid serious legal liabilities by having effective anti-harassment policies and programs in place.

Recently, CCH introduced Shared Learning™ Sexual Harassment Prevention Training — an interactive multimedia training system designed to help create a harassment-free workplace and document employers’ good-faith efforts. The new training resource makes the law come alive and integrates CCH’s authoritative content and expertise with state of the art technology and practical insights from Jackson Lewis.

Availability and Pricing

For more information or to subscribe to Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment and Sexual Harassment Investigations Manual, contact a CCH sales representative at 1-888-CCH REPS (1-888-224-7377). A special introductory subscription offer for Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Practical Guide is $219.

A subscription to the Sexual Harassment Investigations Manual is $129 for the first year with renewal for a second year at $89. Or, subscribe to both publications for $299 for the first year with renewal for a second year at $269. Additional shipping and handling charges and tax apply.

For more information on Shared Learning Sexual Harassment Prevention, contact your CCH sales representative at 1-888-224-7377.

About CCH INCORPORATED

CCH INCORPORATED, headquartered in Riverwoods, Ill., was founded in 1913 and has served four generations of business professionals and their clients. The company produces more than 700 electronic and print products for the tax, legal, securities, insurance, human resources, health care and small business markets. CCH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wolters Kluwer U.S. The CCH web site can be accessed at www.cch.com. The CCH Human Resources group web site can be accessed at http://hr.cch.com.

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