You should be able to feel comfortable in your place of work. No employee should ever have to endure sexual harassment on the job. However, this type of discrimination remains far too prevalent today. That said, it’s crucial to understand how you can protect yourself from sexual harassment in the workplace. Fortunately, state and federal laws protect workers from harassment on the job, meaning you do have legal recourse. If you have fallen victim to sexual harassment in the workplace, it’s in your best interest to contact a competent New York Sexual Harassment Lawyer who can help you understand your rights and fight for the justice you deserve.
How to Report Sexual Harassment on the Job?
Firstly, sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advances or conduct on the job that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. If you have been dealing with sexual harassment at your workplace, you don’t have to accept it. It’s important to speak up to avoid putting your job in jeopardy. Any form of harassment is unacceptable and should be reported to the appropriate parties.
Initially, you should tell the harasser to stop. While this may lead to a confrontation, expressing that the way you have been treated is unwanted can strengthen your claim against them. However, it’s important to understand you don’t have to confront them directly if you feel unsafe. If you don’t feel comfortable communicating with them directly, you should complain to your supervisor. You should familiarize yourself with your company’s employee handbook policies. Follow it and consult your supervisor or someone in the human resources on how to make a sexual harassment complaint. Failure to follow your company’s internal complaint procedure to make them aware of the harassment and give them a chance to stop it can result in the court not allowing you to hold the company liable in a lawsuit.
What if My Employer Doesn’t Help?
It’s important to report incidents immediately as it will help your company perform its investigation while the incident is still fresh. If you don’t receive the help you need, you can go to someone higher in the chain of command. Additionally, you should document what is happening to you and what you are doing to try and put an end to it. This includes collecting as much detailed evidence as possible of the harassment such as offensive letters, photographs, or notes you receive. You should also note the dates of the offenses. If complaining to your employer doesn’t work, you can go file a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces laws prohibiting workplace discrimination. If the settlement fails to produce satisfactory results, you can file a civil lawsuit for damages.
At Bell Law Group, PLLC, we are prepared to listen to your story and provide you with our best legal option about whether you have a viable sexual harassment claim. Connect with us today to learn how we can fight for you, every step of the way.
