Legal Tips for Dealing with Workplace Sexual Harassment
One of the more serious offenses that can happen in the workplace today is sexual harassment. This might include inappropriate touching or vulgar comments. If it happens to you, here are some legal tips worth looking over before taking action.
Make an Official Report
After the incident of sexual harassment, you need to get it on record so that it's easier to trace back because of the paper trail that's created. Your company should have an HR (human resource) department that you can use to make an official incident report.
You need to explain exactly what happened, including how you were sexually harassed and where it happened. Then this information will be sent off to the appropriate channels. This report is crucial if you plan on suing the co-worker that performed this act and potentially the employer that let it happen. Your employment lawyer can base your entire case on this incident report.
File a Complaint with Employment Commission If Necessary
If your report of sexual harassment isn't dealt with in a way that you deem fair and you're subsequently still harassed at work, what you can do is file a complaint with an employment commission in your area. They'll take over your case and follow the necessary reporting procedures from here on out.
What they can then do is take legal action and stop the sexual harassment once and for all. You just need to file this complaint as quickly as possible and be thorough when drafting up your report of the incident.
Consult With an Employment Lawyer
One of the best things you can do when facing sexual harassment at work is to consult with an employment lawyer familiar with workplace sexual harassment law. They'll help you in a lot of key ways. For instance, they can look at the incident and make sure it qualifies as sexual harassment.
If it does, they can help you take this incident up with the appropriate chains in command. They'll also show you what legal steps you can pursue, such as suing the employer or co-worker that's responsible for the sexual harassment. As long as you listen to your attorney's advice, you can get back to a healthy work environment once again.
There are a lot of workers that have to face acts of sexual harassment. It's important to respond correctly from a legal standpoint so that these acts stop and workplaces are improved as a whole for others being put in the same positions.