Sexual harassment is a broad term and does not only refer to being forced into having sex. It includes the harasser bullying the victim, being hostile towards them, and abusing their power and authority over the victim. The majority of the cases of sexual harassment are where the victim is a woman, and a harasser is a man, but males can also be victims. Sexual harassment is also seen in same-sex individuals.
Sexual harassment at work is a growing problem that has done severe damage over the years. It ruins the well-being and mental health of the employees, and it can make the employees fearful and unable to do their job effectively and productively. Being a victim of sexual harassment at work is a horrible and disturbing experience. You should know your options, rights, and what to do if you ever face such a situation.
1) Go through your workplace policy
Most companies have Sexual harassment policies that are put in place to protect employees. You should have received a copy of this policy during induction, but if not, you can access it through your employer’s intranet or get them by talking to the human resources rep.
2) Set boundaries
You can start by telling the harasser that their actions make you uncomfortable, and they should stop. Sometimes this may result in the harasser stopping their behavior because sometimes people do not understand that they are doing wrong until their actions are thrown at their face.
3) Ask for help
If you cannot talk to the harasser due to their nature or their position, or if talking to them made no difference, you should talk to a human resource manager or officer at your office. Seek help. Do not let the harasser shut you up. You should speak up and report the incident to a senior, and if you are in the most senior position, you should talk to a board member.
The human resource officer will talk to the harasser, and if they still do not stop, the human resource manager can file a report against them. Every company should have a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment. And every incident reported should be answered with serious actions. This will ensure the safety and health of the employees and the workplace’s environment.
4) Report a formal complaint
If you talked to the harasser, but they did not stop, then you should consider filing a formal complaint against them about their behavior. If your workplace policy does not highlight the procedure of how to file a complaint, write a complaint and give it to the human resource manager of your office.
In the complaint, provide as many details as you can. Mentioned the frequency and intensity of sexual harassment you faced and if anyone saw it happen. If you have documents, pictures, emails, screenshots that can be used as evidence and proof of sexual harassment, you should include them as well. The company should take serious action against the complaint, and an investigation should be put into place.
5) Report to an external body
You can file a lawsuit against the employee or employer if you were sexually harassed at work or if your job was wrongfully terminated because you talked about the incident and decided to seek help instead of remaining silent. Sexual harassment lawyers Kansas city will help you win your rights. A lawyer will help you build your case and represent you in court and take care of legal matters associated with your case.