Many victims of sexual harassment in the workplace remain silent. They may be afraid of losing their jobs, or being treated badly by management or co-workers if they speak up. But if you have been sexually harassed at work, speaking up for yourself is your right and your responsibility.
Although you may be afraid to bring attention to your suffering in the workplace, and you may feel powerless to control it, there are certain steps you can and should take. These include the following:
Speak Up – If you are being harassed, it is wise to first let the offender know that you are offended. They may not recognize that their actions are improper or hurtful. This may stop the harassment immediately.
Follow Your Employer’s Approved Protocol – If notifying your offender has not worked, or if that is something you are not able to do, the next step is to follow whatever office procedure your employer has created, exactly as it is written. Most likely, there is someone who is assigned to take such complaints, and that is where you should start. If your company does not have a set system for reporting offenses, then go to someone in authority who may be able to help. Your immediate supervisor would probably be the best person to handle your complaint, but if that person is not available, you should notify someone in management.
Document the Offense – You should have all the facts straight, so writing down what was said and done, along with names, times, and places any offenses occurred will give greater weight and validity to your claim.
File an Administrative Charge – If all else has failed, and no one has done anything about your sexual harassment complaint, you will have to file an administrative charge with the proper government agency. Usually this would be the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or your state’s human rights or civil rights enforcement agency. If one of these agencies cannot resolve your complaint, and it deems your claim valid, it will issue you a “right to sue” letter that you can use to bring your case to court.
Litigate Your Case – If you do not receive satisfaction through any of the above methods, you can take your case to court. A civil lawsuit would bring to light the injuries you suffered due to sexual harassment.
If you have suffered sexual harassment on the job, call a Philadelphia sexual harassment lawyer at The Gold Law Firm P.C. We can guide you in making the best decisions and protecting your workplace rights. Please call 215-569-1999, or contact us online for a free consultation.
