Gender equality is taking a stand nowadays. While in the past, many women would stay home while their husbands went to work, they have become more independent these days. For this reason, we see many women joining men-dominating industries, showing that they can indeed be just as good as men.
That being said, surveys found that around 81% of the women have experienced sexual harassment at some point – and many of those happen at the workplace. It may be a quid pro quo or a generally hostile environment. So, what can you do if something like this happens to you?
The law is on your side, and you can grab justice for yourself if you are discriminated against in any way. Here are the steps that you should take.
Document the Incidents
You need to document all the incidents that have made you uncomfortable. From the moment you experience the first innuendo, keep a log. Your boss made a dirty joke during a meeting? Write that down.
Or maybe your co-worker brushed suggestively against you while passing by, trying to spice up their romantic life. If it’s unwanted, you should write that down too. If you file a sexual harassment lawsuit, your lawyer can use that information later to create a timeline.
Make Sure They Know It’s Unwelcome
Innocent flirting can occur at any time in the workplace. In fact, 16% of the married couples met their spouses at work, and one in 10 people will have some kind of office romance at some point. It only becomes harassment when it makes one of the parties (meaning you) uncomfortable.
This is why you should make it clear it’s unwelcome. They will just think you like it and accept their advances if you don’t. A person with common sense will stop, and the problem will not evolve. If they don’t stop after you make it clear to them, it’s definitely sexual harassment.
Gather Evidence
When dealing with any kind of workplace discrimination, evidence is crucial. Otherwise, it will simply be your words against theirs. If you’re unlucky and there’s no proof, you may even be sued for defamation.
This is why you need to gather enough evidence. If there are cameras at the workplace, you might want to make a request for the footage to be released. You may also talk to your other co-workers. They may testify for you if they witness you being discriminated against.
Make a Formal Complaint
Your company should have a policy informing its workers of what should be done if they are sexually harassed. In most cases, you should be able to find it in your employee handbook.
Employers can’t be held liable for anything that happens unless they are aware of it. This is why formal complaints should be made. This way, they will have a chance to do the right thing and solve the problem. If you don’t bring the problem to the higher-ups, they can say they had no idea what was happening.
Get a Lawyer
Technically speaking, you do not need a lawyer if you are just filing a complaint. However, if the situation is bigger or if you don’t know whether a particular situation can be called sexual harassment or not, you may want to consult with a lawyer.
You may be tempted to get an out-of-state lawyer, simply because you heard they were better. However, the discrimination laws in California may be different than those in, say, Alabama. If you are discriminated against in Solana Beach, then you may want to make sure you get a Solana Beach sexual harassment lawyer.
File a Claim
Suppose your higher-ups are not taking your problem seriously (or worse, it’s the higher-ups that are harassing you). In that case, you may want to file a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or with the Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA).
This step is necessary if you intend on eventually filing a lawsuit. Remember that you will also have a statute of limitations for that: 180 days since the last incident. If that timeframe passes and the harasser did nothing to bother you within that timeframe, then your claim may not be taken into consideration.
Final Thoughts
You do not have to put up with sexual harassment, regardless of where it may be coming from. Before it becomes even more unpleasant, you may want to take the matter into your own hands and call your lawyer.
