Is it harassment or just bad behavior?
When conflicts arise at work, it’s not always easy to distinguish between harassment and conduct that’s simply inappropriate or rude. That’s why Emtrain developed the Employee Complaint Decision Tree, a simple yet powerful tool designed to help HR teams navigate employee complaints with clarity and confidence.
The tip sheet uses Emtrain’s Workplace Color Spectrum®, a proven behavior-rating framework, to characterize and address workplace behavior. This ensures complaints are handled effectively while fostering positive cultural change.
- Green: Socially aware and respectful behavior.
- Yellow: Reactive and unintentional, but disruptive.
- Orange: Behavior targeting legally protected characteristics.
- Red: Persistent or severe behavior that creates a toxic and illegal workplace.
How It Works:
- Ask the Right Questions: Use the tree to determine if the issue relates to protected characteristics like race, gender, or age.
- Color-Coded Insights: Identify the behavior’s impact using the Workplace Color Spectrum® to decide the appropriate response.
- Guidance for Action: Whether it’s coaching, addressing team dynamics, or escalating to HR for investigation, you’ll know what to do next.
Handling complaints incorrectly can lead to misunderstandings, employee dissatisfaction, and even legal risks. By clearly distinguishing between harassment and rude behavior, you ensure every issue gets the attention it deserves — and none are over- or under-reacted to.
