Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and California Fair Employment & Housing Act impose liability on employers for failing to remedy and prevent a hostile or offensive work environment of which management knew or should have known about in workplace harassment. Harassment occurs when an employer creates, condones or permits a hostile, intimidating or offensive work environment. Therefore, an immediate and thorough investigation, followed by an appropriate remedy, is necessary for the employer to reduce and avoid liability. To conduct an appropriate workplace investigation, an employer should follow these 13 critical practices:
