If you experience sexual harassment at work, it’s crucial to document incidents, report them to your employer or HR, and seek external support if needed. Every employee has the right to feel secure and welcome at the workplace. However, sexual harassment or similar behaviours can make an inviting environment hostile. This is when managers need to be proactive with workplace sexual harassment prevention steps. It makes an employee safe and helps one overcome the mental health problems they have been through during the harassment. Managers should take proper steps before the work productive is hampered.
Things to Do First When Sexually Harassed at Work
Before one acts, it is crucial to understand what behaviours are termed as sexual harassment in the workplace. By knowing this, you get a clear idea of what the law covers and what not. Be sure about the benefits it covers to ensure that your bases are covered when you file a lawsuit for the same.
Seek professional and dedicated assistance to understand workplace sexual harassment better. With a clear idea, it is easy for you to seek legal help. The harassment can be sexist or sexual.
Steps to Follow When Sexually Harassed at Work
So, if you are a victim of sexual harassment at work, act strategically and ensure you get the justice you deserve. The below steps can help you make an informed decision:
Keep a Note of the Details
If you are experiencing sexual discrimination at work, document everything, as maintaining detail is the key. Keep track of every small detail of the harassment you faced, from the start to the end. The details, along with a written record, help one better prove their claim to an investor or law enforcement official.
When you list the behaviour in a document, the conduct should be offensive to you and others as well. Try to consult with someone you trust before gathering solid proof as evidence to produce in claim of the harassment case.
Tell the Harasser to Stop the Behaviour
Keep a note of your response to the harassment suffered. Start by asking the harasser to stop the unwanted behaviour, letting them know that it is unwelcome. If the harasser is a person of high authority, the confrontation can be difficult. Prioritise your safety and take a stand for the harassment you received.
You may skip taking a step against the unwanted behaviour until another person may harass you some other day, thinking that you won’t take any strong action. So, prioritise safety over any other.
Let the Harasser Know Its Unwelcome
State what behaviours you want to stop. Don’t make any ambiguous statements, and be clear and direct to make the other person understand what makes you uncomfortable. The writing helps keep note of the unwelcomed behaviours so that you know when it is crossed.
So, having a clear write-up on how you clearly protested your harasser that their behaviour is unwanted and uncomfortable. This can help you go a long way to take proactive steps for any future claims on harassment cases.
Check with the Company Policy and Report Immediately
After you identify the behaviour with the harasser, escalate the complaint to others. Meanwhile, don’t forget to check with the company policy and check for an official complaint process. In case there is an official process, follow up and get a quick response. You can follow up with the human resource department or the supervisor.
Complain to the Supervisors or HR Department
It is important to report sexual harassment to your HR department or the supervisor, so that suitable actions at the earliest. Individuals often don’t bring up harassment issues out of fear and the negative impact of their complaints.
But it is better to choose to complain about workplace sexual harassment prevention further. Your employer can take action if only there is a complaint report. So, you don’t think twice before reporting about the harassment.
Connect with a Sexual Harassment Lawyer
Approach a legal expert who has specialisation in sexual harassment cases. It can help you know the steps of the lawsuit and how the lawyer can guide you. You can also find out whether you have the right to sue the employee who tried or harassed you at work.
Provide the details to your harassment lawyer for appropriate evaluation and take steps for the problem you have faced at the workplace.
So, once you are aware of the legal rules, you should be ready to file a lawsuit. The lawyer can help you with this and get guidance on how to get coverage for emotional distress due to the bad behaviour of a co-worker at the workplace.
Need for harassment training If Sexually Harassed at Work
Workplace bullying and harassment training Australia-wide is essential for employees. The training empowers employees about their rights and responsibilities when they face harassment, especially sexual harassment. Victims are often isolated or have the fear of talking about the incident. However, the training makes them aware of the recognition and the need to address the misconduct to prevent it from occurring in the future.
The main idea of conducting such a training program in the workplace is to outline the need to report incidents as soon as they happen, support a co-worker who has suffered and foster a safe and supportive workplace environment.
By implementing workplace bullying and harassment training Australia-wide, an organisation can comply with the legal compliance and protect the morale and safety of employees in the workplace.
Ways for Reporting Cases of Sexual Harassment
It takes a lot of courage to report a case of harassment and bullying at the workplace. Make sure to report it to your employer and at a government agency. Filing reports for the harassment can be daunting, but it can prevent any future harassment from taking place.
Get in touch with a trustworthy harassment lawyer who can help you go through the easy steps of filing a complaint and get justice for the offensive act at your workplace.
When reporting, check the company policy. If there is any policy process to go through, it can help get quick solutions for the harassment. The policy of the company gives the employer a chance to analyse and address the issue in detail. This is how it is easy to hold the culprit accountable for the problem.
Don’t instead of holding yourself back, ask for immediate help. It can prevent future chances of harassment and bullying situations in the workplace. Take a stand today and encourage others to take one and promote the practice of a harassment-free workplace.
