Last February, Panasonic Connect Japan grabbed headlines by promptly demoting an employee found guilty of sexual harassment.
As we applaud their commitment, it’s crucial to shine a light on the often-overlooked issue of power harassment. Whether through subtle intimidation or outright abuse, it inflicts lasting harm on victims and undermines workplace morale. With 1 in 3 Japanese employees experiencing it, we must act now to create safer, more inclusive workplaces.
Amid resource pressures, securing workforce retention and satisfaction is paramount. Therefore, let’s take action:
🍋 Raise awareness of cultural norms, unconscious biases and workplace microaggressions at all level.
🍋 Prioritize inclusion initiatives that are connected to business objectives, risks mitigation and measurables outcomes.
🍋 Implement comprehensive education programs for staff and leaders to recognize and prevent power harassment.
🍋 Create safe spaces where employees can share concerns and learn new behaviours collectively towards a more positive culture : discussion groups, employee forums, learning dojos.
🍋 Establish clear reporting procedures with transparent consequences for offenders.
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