In an ideal world, women would not have to struggle with sexual harassment in the workplace. Unfortunately, workplace sexual harassment and sexual discrimination are somewhat common problems. In fact, one survey indicates that approximately one in three women have reported being sexually harassed at work.
It is ultimately the duty of employers and individual employees to promote a culture in which sexual harassment is a non-issue. It should not be the responsibility of female employees who’ve been the targets of sexual harassment to address the problem. Their employers and fellow employees should instead treat them with the respect they deserve.
That said, it is worth noting that there are various steps women can take if they’re being sexually harassed at work to put an end to the harassment and perhaps even ensure those guilty of committing it are fired. Examples include the following:
Chapter Overview
Going to HR
It’s a simple step, but one that can sometimes be helpful in these situations.
Of course, that’s not always the case. In theory, HR is responsible for handling these scenarios in a manner that prioritizes the needs and rights of the employee making a complaint. However, some workers across a wide range of industries have expressed feeling as though HR is more likely to side with the company than them.
You have to exercise your judgment when deciding if and how you should file a complaint with HR. In extreme circumstances, when HR has a clear and established track record of protecting an employer at the expense of employees, it may be acceptable to skip reporting the harassment to HR and to proceed directly to other suggestions on this list. In general, though, it’s wise to report these issues to HR. Even if HR doesn’t offer any actual help, if this becomes a legal matter, your failure to report it to HR could be used against you, with your employer or their attorney arguing that the problem couldn’t have been as serious as you claim because you never tried to address it through the proper channels.
Seek an Attorney
This may be a good idea even before you initially file a complaint with HR. If your rights are being violated at work, a sexual harassment employment law lawyer can help you build a strong case. Their understanding of the law will optimize your chances of genuinely correcting the issue in a manner that limits the chances of it being a problem again. Additionally, a lawyer may help if your employer tries to punish you in some capacity for speaking up about your experiences.
File a Complaint with the EEOC
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is the agency generally most responsible for handling complaints pertaining to sexual harassment in the workplace. You can file a complaint with the EEOC if you’ve attempted to take action but your employer will not do anything to help you.
It’s also wise to carefully and thoroughly document all instances of sexual harassment or behavior that could be related to sexual harassment. Even if it’s only vaguely implied that you might have a better chance at receiving a promotion if you perform sexual favors, write down the date, time, and nature of the incident, as well as the names of all individuals involved.
Again, it’s unfortunate that many employers won’t take the necessary action to address these problems themselves. That needs to change. In the meantime, women should be aware of their options when sexual harassment occurs.