Project WHEN is working hard to make workplaces everywhere more respectful. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Diane Stegmeier, we focus on all areas of workplace harassment, including sexual and physical harassment, quid pro quo harassment, microaggression, bullying, job shaming, verbal threats, derogatory comments, discriminating or exclusionary behavior, and other forms of offensive conduct.
At Project WHEN, we are dedicated to creating safer, more respectful workplaces through our comprehensive research and actionable solutions. Our goal is to provide organizations with the tools and knowledge they need to foster respectful and inclusive workplace cultures.
Program Delivery
Our Work: United for Iran (U4I) Project
United for Iran (U4I), a nonprofit organization committed to promoting civil liberties and human rights in Iran, partnered with Project WHEN to develop a series of anti-harassment training modules. The objective was to create culturally relevant training that could effectively address sexual harassment in various environments, including workplaces, educational institutions, and public spaces. Project WHEN produced three distinct 30-40 minute of training videos tailored to specific audiences: managers, all employees, and the general public. The content was meticulously developed in collaboration with U4I to ensure alignment with cultural sensitivities. U4I subsequently translated the customized material into Farsi, enhancing accessibility for Iranian citizens.
Throughout the project, Project WHEN focused on ensuring that the modules were not only accurate but also culturally sensitive to the unique social context of Iran. The content was reviewed in a way that allowed it to be easily translated and understood by the target audiences. Despite the challenge of developing content that resonated deeply within a specific cultural framework, Project WHEN was able to provide timely content, feedback and recommendations that improved the clarity, relevance, and effectiveness of the training modules.
Each module was delivered on schedule, starting with training for employees and concluding with the public training module. The enhancements made by Project WHEN resulted in training modules that were well-received by participants across all target audiences, with positive feedback highlighting the practical and culturally appropriate strategies included in the content.
United for Iran praised Project WHEN for their critical role in shaping the anti-harassment training, emphasizing how the thoughtful revisions ensured that the content was not only effective but also resonated with the Iranian audience. This project not only exemplified Project WHEN’s ability to adapt and deliver impactful training solutions in diverse and challenging environments but also advanced United for Iran’s mission to empower citizens in advocating for their rights and protecting themselves from harassment. Through this successful collaboration, United for Iran was able to launch a comprehensive training program that contributed to creating safer, more respectful environments in Iran. The case study of this partnership serves as a testament to Project WHEN’s expertise in developing customized, culturally sensitive training programs that drive meaningful change.
You can read more here: https://united4iran.org/cheragh-academy/
You can also check the training modules here: https://cheragh.org/fighting-sexual-harassment-educational/
Project WHEN Culture Pulse Survey
The Project WHEN’s Culture Pulse Survey is a comprehensive tool designed to help organizations assess and improve their workplace culture, focusing on fostering respect and addressing all forms of harassment. This annual survey, recommended by the National Women’s Law Center, establishes a crucial baseline to measure progress over time. It examines harassment in all its forms—sexual, physical, bullying, microaggressions, job shaming, exclusionary behavior, and more—while evaluating factors such as leadership behavior, communication effectiveness, organizational culture, and employee confidence in anti-harassment measures.
Developed from extensive research involving 234 organizations across 31 industries, and aligned with EEOC risk factors, the survey’s 24 questions (excluding demographics) provide actionable data in approximately 10 minutes of employee engagement. Questions are thoughtfully crafted to address sensitive topics and encourage honest feedback. Example topics include clarity around appropriate behavior, confidence in leadership’s commitment to preventing harassment, and employee perceptions of the organization’s core values.
In addition to the standard survey format, Project WHEN offers customization options, to ensure we can align with a client’s specific needs in creating a respectful, harassment-free workplace. The Culture Pulse Survey can be administered as a standalone service or as part of Project WHEN’s Organizational Certification, which provides a holistic and strategic approach to eliminating workplace harassment. Upon completion, organizations receive a detailed report outlining key findings, concerns raised by employees, and tailored recommendations for improvement. This report serves as a roadmap for cultivating a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment.
To learn more about culture pulse survey, you can visit here: https://projectwhen.org/employee-culture-pulse-survey/
Certification Process
We are proud to offer a rigorous certification process that ensures our clients receive the highest quality service. Our certification process is designed to verify that all aspects of our work meet the highest standards of excellence.
WHEN™ Organizational Certification for Harassment-Free Workplaces: Project WHEN offers a comprehensive certification program designed to eliminate workplace harassment through a systemic, research-driven approach. Unlike traditional methods that focus primarily on legal compliance and sexual harassment, this certification addresses all forms of harassment, including bullying and microaggressions, across diverse employee groups. The program involves a three-phase process: assessing corporate culture and employee perceptions, gathering and documenting evidence of anti-harassment practices, and undergoing a thorough review for certification. Organizations that achieve certification demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace culture, enhancing their reputation among employees, customers, and the broader community. To learn more about this certification, you can visit here: https://projectwhen.org/anti-harassment-certification/when-organizational-certification/
WHEN™ Professional Certification for Harassment-Free Workplaces: Project WHEN offers a web-based certification program designed for leaders in Human Resources, Inclusion & Diversity, Legal, and Compliance roles. This certification equips practitioners with the tools and knowledge to drive systemic change and create harassment-free workplace cultures. The course content, available online, provides a comprehensive curriculum for those passionate about fostering respectful and inclusive work environments. Interested individuals can sign the Pledge of Commitment to join the Project WHEN email list or contact us directly to enroll. To learn more about this certification, you can visit here: https://projectwhen.org/anti-harassment-certification/when-professional-certification/
Resources
At Project WHEN, we believe in empowering organizations with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed. Our Resource Center offers a wealth of materials designed to support your efforts in creating a respectful workplace, including:
1: Research on the Causes and Impact of Harassment in the Workplace
The resource provides an extensive overview of workplace harassment, defining it broadly to include sexual, physical, and verbal harassment, microaggressions, bullying, and other discriminatory behaviors. It highlights the types, causes, and impacts of harassment across various industries, such as tech, service, and government sectors. The resource emphasizes that harassment can stem from cultural, organizational, and individual factors, and discusses the importance of creating a culture of respect within organizations. It also includes research on the antecedents and consequences of harassment, practical strategies to mitigate it, and resources for further study. Project WHEN advocates for a holistic approach to eliminating workplace harassment, offering tools like surveys, certifications, and roundtables to help organizations assess and improve their work environments.
You can read more here: https://projectwhen.org/research-on-workplace-harassment/
Awareness Against Harassment Series aimed at educating the public and organizations about the various forms of workplace harassment, how to prevent or address them, and what actions employees can take if they experience or witness harassment. The series covers a wide range of harassment types, including age discrimination, disability discrimination, sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, retaliation, pay discrimination, religious discrimination, national origin discrimination, racial discrimination, and gender discrimination.
Each topic provides detailed information on the legal protections available, how employers can prevent or address these issues, and resources for employees. Additionally, the series includes guidance on how to report workplace harassment incidents, handle online harassment and cyberbullying, and comply with harassment training requirements by state.
The series also explores harassment in specific industries such as tech, alcohol and service, higher education, government, media and entertainment, and sports, offering insights into the systemic issues and providing examples of documented harassment cases. The overarching goal is to raise awareness, educate, and spark change within organizations to create a safer and more respectful work environment.
You can read more here: https://projectwhen.org/resources/
This resource serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals looking to file workplace discrimination or harassment claims across all 50 U.S. states. For each state, it outlines the appropriate state and federal agencies to contact, such as state human rights commissions and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), providing detailed contact information including addresses and phone numbers. The guide also specifies important filing deadlines, which vary by state, and notes the minimum employer size requirements applicable under both state and federal laws. This resource is designed to assist employees in understanding and navigating the process of reporting workplace discrimination effectively and within the appropriate time frames.
You can read more here: https://projectwhen.org/harassment-training-requirements-by-state/
