Unions are trying harder now to be responsive, but some women believe more progress could be made if there were a national organization for women in the building trades. This year's recent Supreme Court decisions set the table for the legal struggles to come. Supervisors already are so pressed, often working long hours under pressure, that they may not see the need for harassment training. Whether training gets through to its targets is a question. Every employee should be trained once and if possible twice a year and should be required to sign the employer's policy and manual stating that they read and know about the policies on sexual harassment, including the system for how complaints will be handled.
Many companies use videos.
Between workers of equal status a different standard applies. Foul language probably only merits a warning. If it involves touching, suspension without pay is needed. Beyond the basics, the issues grow murkier. Some attorneys say more harassment occurs in construction industry offices, where private encounters are more likely and where more women work.