How to avoid sexual harassment incidents. (The Human Side) (Column)

Since the publication of Michael Crichton's novel and the release of the movie, "Disclosure," the general public has become aware of what companies have known for some time - that sexual harassment situations are complicated, volatile and extremely difficult to resolve.

Sexual harassment is a major corporate concern and the costs of attorneys and awarded damages are obvious and direct. Yet when the non-legal costs are included, such as turnover, absenteeism and lost productivity, the stakes become high. A Working Woman survey of Fortune 500 companies estimated sexual harassment costs at $6.71 million annually per company.

A major complicating factor is the changing American workplace. As more and more women are moving into traditionally male-dominated fields, both women and men are having to adapt to new ways of working and socializing together.

The term …