Each day you go to work you don’t expect to be harassed sexually by your superiors, co-workers, vendors or anyone else you come in contact with during the course of the day. It is illegal for sexual harassment to take place at work. There are laws and other protections in place for the victims of sexual harassment, including those who are not victims but who blow the whistle on those doing the harassing. Below are the effects of workplace sexual harassment.
You can suffer mental health issues when victimized by sexual harassment, including all of the following:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance abuse
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of motivation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Panic attacks
You can also suffer from emotional issues when being sexually harassed at work. You might suffer from any of the following emotional problems:
- Shame
- Guilt
- Betrayal
- Fear
- Anger
- Humiliation
- Loss of control
- Powerlessness
- A feeling of being violated
There are physical effects that many victims of sexual harassment suffer, including all of the following:
- Trouble eating
- Issues with sleeping
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Increased levels of stress
If you believe that you are the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, report it immediately. You should then seek counseling from your doctor or from a therapist recommended by your doctor. Counseling can help you avoid the mental, emotional and physical effects sexual harassment can have on you.
Victims of sexual harassment in the workplace should report the issue immediately to the human resources department or a supervisor. Taking the complaint up the chain of command will make it more difficult for the company to deny what is happening or ignore it completely.
