If you’re a victim of sexual harassment at work, you shouldn’t wait a single day to review what happened and to decide on what to do next. The sooner you take action the easier it is to protect yourself and to hold the harasser responsible for their behavior.
Here are three things you should do:
- Speak your mind: There is no place for sexual harassment at work, so speak up the second you find yourself in this position. Sometimes, this alone is enough to put an immediate stop to the harassment.
- Read your employee handbook: You’re likely to find language on how to file a formal complaint and what comes next. If you don’t, contact your HR department to see what you should do next.
- File an administrative charge: You hope you can resolve your complaint by following your employer’s procedure, but there is no guarantee. Even if you do this, your harasser may not stop. This may lead you to file an administrative charge, such as with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Your goal is to put an end to the sexual harassment as soon as possible, all so you can once again return to your life as normal at work.
If you’re unable to fix things, you may have no choice but not look into litigation. This is often the best approach after a government agency provides you with a “right to sue letter.”
Sexual harassment at work shouldn’t be a problem in today’s world, but it remains an issue throughout the country. The steps you take will help you protect your legal rights, so move forward in a timely and strategic manner.
