Sexual Harassment: Five Steps To Follow

Only a victim of sexual harassment can understand how upsetting and traumatic the situation is. However, if you stay silent or try to ignore the unwelcome actions of the offender, that will encourage the offender to be more aggressive and his actions may transform into sexual assault. Most women remain mum in this situation with the thought that reporting to the employer may lead to retaliation which will make the workplace more hostile to continue.

However, you should know that sexual harassment in the workplace is strictly prohibited by federal law. Moreover, the law directs the employers to take an instant action to investigate the matter and stop the offender from doing so. In this article, we are intended to guide you about how to get rid of the situation.

Noteworthy, that consulting a sexual harassment attorney in this matter is likely to be more worthwhile. In addition, they can help you get compensation from your employer due to your harassment.     

Steps You Should Follow

Say boldly that it is unwelcome

To prevent the offender, whoever may be the person, be he is your departmental head, supervisor, co-worker, say in unequivocal terms that such behavior is unwelcome to you and stop behaving in this manner. In legal terms, being the prey, it’s your first step to inform that it’s embarrassing and unwanted to you. You can also inform it in writing or through email. Doing so also helps you to keep evidence that the conduct was unwelcome to you and that you have been informed especially if the offender doesn’t stop.

Document/store all evidence

Make sure to document the behaviors or actions of the offender in a diary on regular basis with dates, times, and details explaining the incidents. Also start restoring vulgar emails with proposals like ‘give and take’, letters, sending sexually stimulating photo images, and also record voices or voice mails, etc.

Keeping these documents and storing voice mails etc. helps you to prove that you are sexually harassed by a particular person or group. Factually, in most cases, proving sexual harassment becomes extremely challenging since most harassers stay careful during such offensive actions. Although, if you remain alert and prepared, you can get such evidence that will help in the long run when the time comes to take an action.  

Report about the conduct

Reporting to your employer is your next job because that offers the scope to your employer to address the issue and make the offender stop doing so. Since the law states that an employer is responsible to investigate if any sexual harassment occurs in the workplace and take necessary action to stop it. So, unless you report to the employer by writing about the harassment as well as who is/are involved in it, it is not possible for the employer to be aware of it or take any action.

Therefore, in case the conduct doesn’t stop, you cannot make the employer responsible as you have not informed the matter to him. But even after making the employer informed about your harassment, if no action is being taken then, your sexual harassment attorney can make the employer responsible for your harassment and compensate the damages that you have experienced.

Never quit your job

Sexual harassment is illegal. If you feel it is intolerable to work in such as hostile work setting, it’s your employer’s responsibility to ensure your protection and stop the offender. But don’t quit the job because your leaving may support the employer to say that he/she is not provided the needed time to stop the issue. Quitting the job could affect your ability to get the compensation that you may deserve.

Talk to a trusted lawyer

Once you feel the situation is intolerable, contact a professional sexual harassment attorney for necessary advice. The professional will suggest to you the option, which might be taking a leave illness or disability-related problem should be the choice. Meanwhile, the lawyer can take the needed action to deal with the situation and help you get a claim.