A supervisor is speaking to an employee about their behaviour. A supervisor is seated at their desk thinking about actions they will take. Two supervisors and an employee are gathered around a computer during a meeting.

Proactive vs. Reactive

Whenever an employee exhibits questionable behaviour, such as telling sexually explicit jokes, it should be corrected. Proactive supervisors never wait for a formal complaint to be filed or hope the situation corrects itself or goes away.

Being reactive, or waiting until after a complaint is filed, can negatively affect morale, performance, trust, and respect, especially if the situation could have been prevented or was allowed to fester without being addressed.

A great place to start is by having periodic discussions about our harassment policies during team meetings. Doing so can help foster and maintain a positive and respectful work environment.