Sexual harassment is not a rare scenario these days, be it at work or any other place. According to reports, most people who endure sexual harassment at work do not take action against it. This happens because they feel powerless and helpless or fear that they might get attacked by their harasser.
Sexual harassment is a criminal offense and should not be left unreported. When your harasser sees you not reporting their heinous acts, they become more and more fearless each day. An Essex County employment attorney can help you learn about your legal rights and options to get out of this situation.
What Is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual touching, requests for sexual favors, verbal or physical harassment in the workplace. When these activities severely affect an individual’s performance and create a hostile work environment or generally affects the person, it constitutes harassment.
Sexual harassment may occur in two forms:
- Quid pro quo harassment
- Hostile environment harassment
Quid pro quo refers to harassment where the employee is asked for sexual favors in return for employment benefits or promotion.
Hostile environment harassment takes place when a worker is so severely harassed that it creates a hostile or abusive environment in the workplace. This can also happen due to repeated harassing behaviors.
How To Deal With Sexual Harassment
- The first step is to determine whether it is an act of sexual harassment. Before taking action, make sure that what you experienced was indeed an offense. For example, someone complimenting your dress may sound offensive to you, but it does not fall under harassment. You can consult an attorney to double-check.
- After you have decided, it is time to collect evidence. Note down every detail of the incident, from the minute it started to when it ended. Do not leave any details out. Try to gather witnesses if it happened in a visual workplace. Collect evidence such as CCTV footage and medical reports.
- Do not wait too long to file the complaint. Waiting too long because you were scared or did not know what to do may reduce your chances of getting justice. It may also give the harasser a chance to clear evidence.
- Write a formal complaint letter to the authorities. Add the necessary details, such as the day, date, time, and place of the incident.
- If your company acts promptly and takes the necessary steps, you may not need an attorney. However, if that is not the case, you need to hire an employment attorney and file a legal complaint.
