Anonymous Sexual Harassment Complaint Involving Executives. What Should the Company Do?
Anonymous or not, a California employer is legally obligated to conduct a prompt, thorough investigation of potential unlawful harassment claims, regardless of who made them. The mere fact that the complaint was anonymous strongly suggests that the complainant fears retaliation. Your statement that “the accused executives are demanding action” suggests that the accused executives have been informed of the allegations, but either they have not been informed (preferably in writing) or have blatantly disregarded the admonition of no retaliation. The accused persons are prohibited from retaliation against any person who has complained, any person believed to complain, any person who experienced, observed or witnessed alleged unlawful conduct, or any person who participates in any way in an investigation of the allegations.
