MajorsApr 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New Canadian Distribution Center Amid Tariff ConcernsThe new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.
Events & AwardsMar 13, 2018
What Every Business Needs to Know About Harassment
At JA New York, former Jewelers Vigilance Committee CEO Cecilia Gardner talked employee rights and how to protect one’s business from litigation.
New York--Employers are on the losing end of most lawsuits brought by employees, Cecilia Gardner said, but there are many things businesses can do to prevent issues before they arise.
Gardner, former president and CEO of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, addressed an audience gathered Monday at the JA New York Spring show for an education session titled “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Tools for Employees and Businesses.”
Gardner explained that several federal laws prohibit harassment, a form of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, age, disability or genetic information, as well as other protected characteristics.
Comments, jokes, online postings, or any conduct that targets employees based on one or more of the above characteristics is considered hostile environment harassment.
And it’s not just the people at the top who are responsible for this type of conduct; employees can bring a lawsuit against a company if they’re experiencing harassment from anyone, including co-workers, customers and vendors, she said.
If the harassment creates a work environment for an employee that a reasonable person would find hostile, intimidating or offensive, then it’s illegal and opens employers up to a lawsuit that they will likely lose.
Gardner emphasized that in harassment situations, the power lies with the employee, or whoever takes legal action. Anyone who witnesses harassment and is offended by it can also file a suit. The average award for these claims is $150,000.
However, petty slights, annoyances or isolated incidents—unless severe—are unlikely to succeed in court, she said.
What Businesses Can Do to Prevent Lawsuits
Gardner emphasized that if companies have clear and oft-stated policies prohibiting harassment in any form, and foster an environment where employees feel safe to speak to their managers, they can avoid situations severe enough to result in legal action.
Here are a few tips:
-- Develop an anti-discrimination and harassment policy that both defines and prohibits harassment;
-- Outline steps for employees to take if they feel they have experienced discrimination or unwelcome behavior and, most importantly, to report it to management as soon as possible;
-- Prohibit any type of retaliation for reporting misconduct in the company’s policy;
-- Communicate these policies to vendors working with the business;
-- Include the policies in an employee handbook that employees read and sign;
-- When employees come
to management, for any issue, hear and address their concerns; and
-- Hire and fire carefully by outlining a clear procedure for firing employees, documenting why they are being let go and sticking to that procedure.
A full example of an employee handbook with all policies and information that should be included is available on the Jewelers Vigilance Committee website.
As for employees who experience harassment and/or discrimination, Gardner advised the following.
-- Consider safety first and remove yourself from an uncomfortable situation.
-- Tell the person the conduct is unwelcome.
-- Report the incident immediately to management or human resources.
-- If an employee questions whether conduct is harassment, bring it to management and discuss.
-- Document what happened, sign and date it, keep a copy and give one to management.
-- Tell someone else so you have a witness.
-- Hire and fire carefully by outlining a clear procedure for firing employees, documenting why they are being let go and sticking to that procedure.
A full example of an employee handbook with all policies and information that should be included is available on the Jewelers Vigilance Committee website.
As for employees who experience harassment and/or discrimination, Gardner advised the following.
-- Consider safety first and remove yourself from an uncomfortable situation.
-- Tell the person the conduct is unwelcome.
-- Report the incident immediately to management or human resources.
-- If an employee questions whether conduct is harassment, bring it to management and discuss.
-- Document what happened, sign and date it, keep a copy and give one to management.
-- Tell someone else so you have a witness.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
TrendsApr 02, 2026
Michelle Yeoh Fronts New Mikimoto Campaign The campaign is a tribute to the year 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearl.
GradingApr 02, 2026
GIA Debuts New Campus in TaiwanIt is the only GIA school to offer the GIA Graduate Gemologist program in Chinese.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
DCA Launches ‘Second Spark’ Workforce InitiativeThe initiative connects veterans and parents returning to the workforce with careers in jewelry retail.
Weekly QuizApr 02, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Hoover & Strong Names New National Sales RepresentativeThe wholesale manufacturer and precious metals refiner has appointed Michael Angelo as its new national sales representative.
MajorsApr 01, 2026
Foundrae Sues Pandora for Allegedly Copying Its Medallion DesignsFoundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
AuctionsApr 01, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Heads to AuctionA Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.
SurveysApr 01, 2026
Consumers’ Outlook Improves Again in MarchThe Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged up, with optimism about the present outweighing worries about the future.
IndependentsApr 01, 2026
Zachary’s Jewelers’ Constance Polamalu to Release Children’s BookThe retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.
ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
GIA VP Jillian Wolk to Take Over at Tracr Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
MajorsMar 30, 2026
Tanishq Opens First New England LocationThe store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.
MajorsMar 27, 2026
Saks Global Has Changed Its Mind About Closing These 3 StoresTwo Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.
IndependentsMar 27, 2026
Jimmy West, Longtime LJG Executive Director, Dies at 72West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.
CollectionsMar 27, 2026
Itä’s ‘Yarí Whirl’ Ring Tells Every Side of the StoryIn the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.
WatchesMar 26, 2026
Q&A: Citizen Watch America President Jeffrey Cohen on Eco-Drive’s 50th AnniversaryCohen discusses the evolution of Citizen’s light-powered technology, the brand’s cross-generational appeal, and tariffs.
IndependentsMar 26, 2026
Peter Smith Pens Book on Human Behavior in Sales“Essentially Human: On Sales and Salespeople" reveals the underlying human traits and behaviors of the most successful sales professionals.
CollectionsMar 26, 2026
Lionheart Celebrates 13 Years of ‘Cassandane’The collection features symbols of love, luck, and light, based on the story of Queen Cassandane and Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2026
JA Still Accepting Entries for 2026 CASE AwardsThe deadline for entries in the jewelry design competition has been extended to April 3.
