# Respond to a harassment or discrimination complaint in the first 48 hours

Gives a step-by-step first-response plan for a new complaint: intake, interim measures, documentation, and next steps.

- Topic: HR & Hiring
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Leadership, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/respond-to-a-harassment-or-discrimination-complaint-in-the-first-48

## Prompt

```text
An employee has just raised a harassment or discrimination complaint. Help me handle the first 48 hours properly.

**How the complaint came in:** [in person / email / hotline / via manager / anonymous]
**Summary of the allegation:** [WHAT, who is involved (roles), when, where]
**Relationship between the people involved:** [e.g. manager and direct report, peers, customer]
**Any immediate safety concerns:** [YES/NO and details]
**Our relevant policy:** [PASTE or name]
**Location:** [COUNTRY/STATE]

Give me:
1. **Immediate priorities** - safety, preserving evidence, confidentiality (and its limits), and who needs to know.
2. **Intake meeting guide** - opening script (thank them, explain process, no promises of total confidentiality), open questions to capture who/what/when/where/witnesses/evidence, what outcome they hope for, and how to close.
3. **Interim measures to consider** - schedule or reporting changes, separating parties, administrative leave - and how to avoid measures that disadvantage the complainant.
4. **Anti-retaliation steps** - what to tell the complainant and the managers involved.
5. **Decision point** - informal resolution vs. formal investigation, internal vs. external investigator, when to involve legal or leadership.
6. **Documentation checklist** and a template for the intake note.
7. **What not to do** - e.g. promising outcomes, telling the accused before a plan is in place, discussing with uninvolved colleagues.

If anyone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services first. This is general guidance; involve legal counsel early and follow local law.
```

## What to fill in

- in person / email / hotline / via manager / anonymous
- WHAT, who is involved (roles), when, where
- e.g. manager and direct report, peers, customer
- YES/NO and details
- PASTE or name
- COUNTRY/STATE

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.