What responsibility do supervisors have regarding harassment?

Supervisors play a critical role in maintaining a workplace free from harassment, and their responsibilities include identifying and addressing potentially harmful behaviors. This proactive approach is essential in creating a safe and respectful work environment. When supervisors recognize inappropriate behavior, they are expected to take action, whether that involves confronting the behavior directly, providing guidance to the involved parties, or escalating the issue to appropriate channels such as human resources.

Addressing potentially harmful behaviors is important not only to support affected employees but also to prevent further escalation or recurrence of harassment. By taking these responsibilities seriously, supervisors help foster a culture of accountability and respect within the organization.

The other choices do not align with the responsibilities of supervisors. Ignoring minor inappropriate comments can allow a culture of disrespect to thrive, while delegating issues solely to human resources can lead to a lack of immediate action that may be necessary in some cases. Lastly, creating policies that discourage addressing harassment contradicts the essential principles of a healthy workplace environment and goes against the core tenets of EEO standards.