Employees at the University of Idaho are required to take a sexual harassment seminar upon their hiring and once every two years afterward, but the seminars are open to all students, faculty and employees as well.
The sexual harassment prevention training seminar scheduled for Wednesday will provide insight to the issue of harassment while informing attendees of the basics.
“The focus of a workshop prevention is not the intent, but puts the focus on the impact,” said Carmen Suarez, director of the Human Rights Access and Inclusion.
Suarez, who will also speak at the seminar, said she wants the event to show people that there are people they can talk to and a place to refer others if they suspect sexual harassment has occurred.
“People should feel comfortable coming to work,” Suarez said.
The seminar will open with some of the basics in sexual harassment training.
“It will cover definitions. What is sexual harassment? Where did it come from?” Suarez said. “We will talk about the law aspects as well.”
Suarez said even though the training has to cover the “brass tacks of it” she tries to tie it to culture to make everyone more comfortable.
“It’s about good culture and good climate,” Suarez said.
She said after the basics are covered the presentation will focus on the main concept of harassment.
“The centerpiece is why sexual harassment prevention isn’t in isolation,” Suarez said. “Ultimately all of us are grown ups, including students, and we know what is professional and what isn’t and we know what is appropriate and what isn’t.”
The training will close with a discussion on how to make the workplace a safe space for everyone and will provide tools on how to address issues if they arise.
Suarez said sometimes things happen, for example, a joke may not be intended to be offensive, but that is why the training will explain that everyone needs to keep impact in mind, and not just intent.
This will be the second open forum training partnered with the human resources department and Professional Development and Learning.
Elissa Keim, manager of Professional Development and Learning, handled the coordination aspects of the event. She said the seminar is important because the skills learned are skills everyone needs to have.
“We all need to know how to treat people nicely,” Keim said. “We welcome people to come and if not this, there will be more in the future.”
The event may be the second open forum, but Suarez and the Human Rights Access and Inclusion department also provide all other sexual harassment training for employees, which include initial new staff training and a refresher course every two years.
The training will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Administration Building room 217 and is open to anyone who wants to attend.