You expect to feel safe at work, at the very least. However, this isn’t the case for many employees throughout the country. Instead of feeling welcomed and respected in your workplace, you might have to struggle with experiencing sexual harassment instead. This should never occur, especially in the workplace. Between as many as 54% and 81% percent of women report experiencing some form of sexual harassment at work, and many men find themselves in the same situation as well. While sexual harassment is pervasive in today’s workplace, many don’t know what to do when it happens to them.
At Barrett Farahany, our sexual harassment attorneys know that this is all too real for many employees. If you believe you’ve experienced sexual harassment, we can help protect you and put a stop to these behaviors.
What is Considered Workplace Sexual Harassment?
Some might assume that if they were being sexually harassed, they would know. However, some may worry that what they’re experiencing isn’t actually considered sexual harassment, so there’s nothing they can do about it. Recognizing sexual harassment and reporting it is not always easy.
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), sexual harassment can include:
- Unwelcome sexual advances
- Requests for sexual favors
- Verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature
Because of this, sexual harassment can take many different forms. What one employee experiences may not be what someone else goes through, but they both can still be experiencing sexual harassment.
Steps to Take After Experiencing Sexual Harassment
If you’re suffering due to workplace sexual harassment, here are a few actions you need to take to get it to stop.
Communicate That the Behaviors Are Unwelcome
First, employees need to make it clear that the behaviors are unwelcome. Whether the perpetrator of the harassment is another coworker, a supervisor, or someone outside of your company, you need to tell them to stop, if you feel safe doing so. For many reasons, not everyone will feel comfortable taking this up with their harasser directly.
Document the Behavior
When you are being sexually harassed, you want to show that you have evidence of the unwelcome behaviors. This could include making a note of the date and time certain behaviors occurred, keeping track of messages, and knowing who else may have witnessed the harassment.
Report it to Your Supervisor
If the harassment continues, report it to your supervisor or whoever is responsible for these types of complaints in your workplace. Your employer may have a policy in place that states what to do if you’re being harassed by someone else at work. Sexual harassment in the workplace is illegal, and it’s your employer’s responsibility to do something about it.
Consult with a Sexual Harassment Attorney
Any employee would hope that when they tell their supervisor or another relevant party at work that they are being sexually harassed, the behaviors will be dealt with. However, this is not always the case, and employers do not always prioritize their employee’s safety and well-being. If your employer fails to stop the harassment, contact a sexual harassment attorney to find out what your options are. At Barrett Farahany, we can help determine if the behaviors you’ve experienced are illegal and fight back to get you justice.
Contact the Sexual Harassment Attorneys of Barrett Farahany
Do not feel silenced when you’re being sexually harassed at work. You have the legal right to report this behavior and are protected from any retaliation for doing so. Reporting sexual harassment isn’t easy, but you need to protect yourself and possibly others who may be going through the same thing. We understand how difficult this is, which is why we fight tirelessly for employees throughout Alabama and Georgia.
You can put your trust in us if you’ve been sexually harassed at work. Contact our sexual harassment attorneys today.
