Employees are entitled to a safe work environment, and thus, sexual harassment is not allowed. Unfortunately, even though there are laws and regulations in place that prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace, it still happens. If you are the victim of sexual harassment at work, do not brush it off or try to ignore it. The best thing that you can do is take action. The sooner you take action against sexual harassment at work, the better. It doesn't matter who is harassing you, whether it may be a co-worker, a supervisor, or your boss; you deserve to work in peace. Take the following steps if you are being sexually harassed at your place of employment:
1. Report
There is no reason for you to have to suffer from being sexually harassed while at work. If a boss or coworker is doing anything that falls under the umbrella of sexual harassment, it is essential to report it as soon as possible. If you are being harassed by a co-worker, speak to your manager or supervisor. If the harassment is being done by your supervisor or boss, the best thing that you can do is report the issue to your company's HR department. Reporting instances of sexual harassment will ensure that the issue is on record.
2. Document
The best-case scenario is that when you report the sexual harassment, the behavior stops soon after it is reported to a supervisor or the HR department. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. If you are still being sexually harassed after reporting the issue, make sure that you document every incident. Note the date, time, location, and the details of what happened. Having documentation of being sexually harassed at work will make it easier as you move forward and deal with the issue.
3. Hire a Sexual Harassment Attorney
If you continue to be sexually harassed after reporting the issue, it is in your best interest to hire an experienced sexual harassment attorney to represent you. Your attorney can communicate with your employer and outline all of the incidences that you have endured. Depending on how your employer reacts, your attorney may recommend filing a lawsuit.
Sexual harassment lawsuits can be quite complicated and complex, so retaining the services of an attorney can make the entire process much easier. For more information about your legal options, you can contact services such as Shegerian & Associates, INC.
