Unlike other criminal offenses, sexual assaults behold a stigmatic reputation in society. They are not considered as a crime against the law, but rather against humanity. Perhaps, these crimes can take several forms including rapes, demeanor, or objectionable display.
Moreover, sexual crimes are not associated with any particular place or gender. That being said, victims of such crimes can also be found in offices and commercial spaces. A boss harassing her secretary for sexual favors or a woman using her sexuality to accelerate progress in an organization are some common workplace sexual crimes.
However, it is not only the victim that has to suffer the brunt of social stigma. In fact, the organization’s reputation is also tarnished by such crimes.
Gender Selective Recruitment Is No More A Choice
For several reasons, companies prefer hiring a specific gender over the other. For example, male janitors are usually preferred for cleaning tasks in the men’s facilities. Likewise, for office kitchens and cafeterias, women employees are given preference over male candidates. Although such preferences are a company’s sole discretion, once it is established that the company is involved in a sexual crime such preferences no longer remain a choice. In other words, candidates start applying selectively, and even more so, there may be a reduced flux of applications for any job openings in the company.
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Peers May Also Be Affected
One of the hardest blows that any brand could expect if an employee is found guilty of sexual assaults is reduced business. Here, the business would formally refer to the number of customers for a brand and the subsequent revenue it generates from them. Of course, people would not prefer to endorse products from a brand that cannot check sexual crimes among their employees. As the experts from Belenlawfirm.com explains, brands should invest in criminal defense attorneys who can help restore their image among their peers. There may be chances of false allegations from the plaintiff or the victim. An experienced lawyer would either help completely overrule the allegations or suggest a corrective course of action. Subsequently, it would help establish the brand’s image as a responsible employer. And therefore, mitigate the risks of losing peers.
Evidently, such declines in the workforce and peers for a business would mean nothing else than doom for the brand. However, these risks can be mitigated if brands could implement certain rules and regulations to check any such crime.
Encourage Employees To Come Forth
Most of the time, either the victims of the crime do not come forth or the companies suppress their voice to do so. Any such incident could only encourage defaulters and the wicked to commit more such crimes. Before the situation gets any worse, it is best to check and rectify the errors. And one way to do this is to encourage the employees to come forth and raise their voices. In fact, it is even better to file a complaint with the authorities on both fronts- the legal system and the company.
Educating The Team To Be Collective
Another way to keep a check on sexual crimes is by educating the employees about gender equality. Needless to say, when people treat their fellow employees with the same respect, the chances of any such crimes are quite low. In fact, it is even better to educate the employees about thinking of themselves as a single unit, a team. When people think of others as cognitive parts essential for their own growth and development, they are more likely to respect other’s likes and dislikes. And of course, any such act is only a crime when there is no mutual consent.
Implementing Penalties & Punishments
Most importantly, companies must implement penalties and punishments for offenders. Although the companies cannot punish physically, they can still charge severe social punishments for the offenders. In fact, several companies do not entertain any indecent act in the office premises which may offend either any gender or community.
When a brand stands up against any offense or a crime, it reinforces the brand’s hold over the market. For example, if a clothing brand starts hiring differently-abled models to promote their products, they may induce a sense of natural beauty amongst their buyers. It would only bring in positive results for the brand. Similarly, when a brand stands against sexual assaults and crimes on their premises, they propagate the idea of a safer working place for all genders.
In the end, there’s no single victim to such crimes, but several others also bear the impact of wrongs done by someone.
