Ask the HR Expert — Sexual Harassment and Privacy
Q: Do we have to let the employee who complained about sexual harassment know what the consequences were for the accused individual?
A: You do not need to notify the employee of what the consequences were for the accuser, but you can let the employee know that a thorough investigation took place and the accusations brought forward were taken very seriously. You can also reiterate that inappropriate behavior in your workplace isn’t tolerated and that the investigation was conducted expeditiously.
Bottom Line:
Keep privacy considerations in mind. You can mention that appropriate action was taken, but you don’t have to specify all the details.
