CalChamber Launches #RespectWorks Campaign; Employers Embrace Effort to Promote Inclusiveness and Ensure Harassment-Free Workplaces

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Chamber of Commerce today kicked off #RespectWorks, a campaign joined by a large and growing list of flagship California companies pledging to promote inclusiveness and prevent harassment in their workplaces.

“Harassment has no place in our workplaces,” said Allan Zaremberg, President of CalChamber.  “Joining #RespectWorks demonstrates an employer’s solid commitment to their workers and the success of their company.   Harassment-free workplaces have higher retention rates, recruit and hire the most qualified workers and are more productive and successful.”

So far, more than two dozen early signers have joined the #RespectWorks effort, pledging to use proven, best practices to prevent harassment.  The list of early supporters includes, among others:

  • Blue Diamond Growers
  • Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
  • Systems Integrated
  • Evans Hotels
  • Ernst & Young
  • Albertsons Companies
  • Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
  • Lucas Public Affairs
  • Sacramento River Cats
  • Wilcox, Miller & Nelson
  • AT&T
  • Hornblower Cruises & Events
  • OUTSOURCE Consulting Services

To join the campaign, companies should visit respectworks.calchamber.com.  A key component of the effort is the ability of companies to have free access to several anti-harassment resources and a new human-resources related tip each month.  The monthly tip will focus on practical aspects of creating workplaces free from abusive conduct.  #RespectWorks resources can found at respectworks.calchamber.com.  They include the following:

  • Sample harassment discrimination and retaliation prevention policy;
  • Harassment prevention policy implementation checklist;
  • #RespectWorks poster suitable for display in the office environment, and
  • Tip of the month (the first tip provides details about California’s new mandatory sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training for both supervisors and employees that must be completed by January 1, 2020).

“#RespectWorks is an important campaign to remind both employers and employees the importance of maintaining workplaces that are both inclusive and free from harassment.  I challenge all California employers to join the impressive list of companies supporting this effort and help drive us all to be more successful,” said Mark Jansen, President & Chief Executive Officer, Blue Diamond Growers.

“All workers deserve and should expect to have workplaces that are free from harassment.  Gordon Biersch is committed to this goal for our company.  We are a strong supporter of CalChamber’s #RespectWorks movement,” said Dan Gordon, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Gordon Biersch Brewing Company.

More About #RespectWorks and CalChamber

#RespectWorks is a project of the California Chamber of Commerce that was created to provide employers with anti-harassment resources that will help promote inclusiveness in all California companies.  The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is the largest broad-based business advocate to government in California.  Membership represents one-quarter of the private sector jobs in California and includes firms of all sizes and companies from every industry within the state.  Leveraging our front-line knowledge of laws and regulations, we provide products and services to help businesses comply with both federal and state law.  CalChamber, a not-for-profit organization with roots dating to 1890, promotes international trade and investment in order to stimulate California’s economy and create jobs.  Please visit our website at www.calchamber.com

#####