Harassment in the workplace can be traumatizing to deal with. It can affect your emotional and mental wellbeing. You may have trouble concentrating at work and accomplishing your tasks. Sometimes, you may have difficulty reporting the incidents in fear of an attack or a possible retaliation from the party involved.
Nevertheless, it is always advisable to identify the harassment in time and speak up for the best course of action. In case you’re wondering how to deal with the issue, the guide below provides a practical approach, from identifying the harassment to engaging a sexual harassment lawyer; so you can feel proactive and like you are in control of the situation.
Identify the Harassment
Typically, you should first identify the type of harassment against you. It could stem from age, gender, ethnicity, race, tribal, and even disability harassment. Additionally, it can reflect through abuse, both physical and verbal forms. It may also reflect as offensive threats, objects, or even images. Whichever form it may come, it is ideal for you to recognize it instantly and avoid making excuses for the other party.
It would be best if you recognized any harassment that may come across in any way the offender camouflages it. In such an instance, it is advisable to speak up to the offender that the behavior is wrong and offends you.
The Quid Pro Quo
The above term could term incidents where you face threats on accomplishing something in exchange for something else. It could also translate to getting something done against your wishes and beliefs, hoping that you will receive a specific treatment type at work.
Hostility
Sometimes, it may manifest itself as hostility, which can be traumatic to live with when at work. It can affect your ability to function effectively and can even demoralize you.
Record it
It is ideal to have your record of how the harassment went down. It can include the name of the offender, date, location, time, and names of any potential witnesses. You can opt to record it in a journal or even on your computer. Ensure the information is safe away from any reach by other parties.
In such an instance, it would be advisable to ensure the safety of any documents and records that you could be handling which the offender can jeopardize.
Gather Witnesses
You should also approach any colleague present at that time and ask them if they saw the incident. You can ask them to put it in writing to help pursue further action. You can also include it as part of your report.
Report
Approach your supervisor and report the harassment. Ideally, when you tell your employer about the harassment, your employer can make the necessary plans to investigate the incident and offer the best course of action. You can write a letter detailing the incident and also approach them verbally and report on the same.
Legal Representation
Sometimes, you may also pursue legal representation if you feel you need legal grounds interpretation on the matter.
Nevertheless, it shouldn’t limit you from making a claim to your employer for action against the offender. On the other hand, some instances call for reporting the abuse to the authorities, especially if it involves a claim on sexual harassment. The guidelines at hipaaexams.com/compliance-training-courses/Sexual-Harassment-Training explain the protocol to follow in such a case. Eventually, all claims will go through human resources as it is responsible for employees’ safety and wellbeing in the workplace.
Also, keep a copy of any documentation during filing the claim, which will help you make the necessary follow up. You can also enquire about it through email to provide the essential history in the future in showing you made a claim.
The Union
Sometimes, going through your employee union body is also a viable option when reporting the incident. The body acts as an intermediary between employees and the employer. Nevertheless, the perpetrator can also be under the union body. Therefore, it will require timely intervention to access your claim and assess the situation after interviewing the accused party.
Local Agency
In other instances, you may also go through the local employment agency to report the incident for legal action. You can specifically go to the office in your state to file your complaint in such a case. As a rule, always ensure you report it within the specified duration to allow investigation and action to follow.
You may also opt for a lawsuit if you feel it will be the best action to take with your lawyer’s advice. However, you should only proceed after the issue of the right to sue letter.
With such a case, it is advisable to have a strong support network involving your family, friends, and even colleagues through such a period. Some offenders may issue threats and retaliatory tactics to scare you, especially after reporting the incident. Nevertheless, remember that your safety, physical, and emotional wellbeing comes first.
