By Jay Cook

Your workplace should be safe and void of unwanted advances. Sexual harassment at the workplace is a serious and prevalent issue that can affect anyone and lead to emotional distress, professional setbacks, and negatively impact your overall well-being. If you’ve experienced any sort of harassment or abuse, I am deeply sorry. Here’s a few tips to help you navigate this confusing time.

1. Document Everything

It sucks. First you’re harassed and then you have to make sure you have the evidence or you run the risk of people bot believing you. Frankly, it’s messed up.

But it is crucial to document every incident related to the harassment. Buy a cheap notebook or start a note in your phone where you can keep a detailed record of dates, times, locations, individuals involved, and descriptions of the behavior.

This documentation will serve as evidence if you decide to take legal action or report the harassment to your employer. Be sure to save any relevant emails, text messages, or other communication that can support your case. The more comprehensive your documentation, the stronger your position will be.

2. Talk to Someone you Trust

You deserve to tell your story. Keeping quiet is exactly what your abuser would prefer so they can keep living their life without being held accountable to who they’re hurting.

You don’t have to face workplace sexual harassment alone. Reach out to a trusted colleague, friend, or family member to share your experiences and seek support. Be sure it’s someone you trust who will listen and believe you. Talking it out can alleviate the pain you’re feeling and may provide you with valuable advice on how to proceed. Additionally, this person may be a potential witness or source of support if the situation escalates.

3. Report the Harassment

I know. This step sounds scary. But reporting is a crucial step in addressing the issue. Your workplace likely has established procedures for reporting incidents. Talk to your HR department or a designated harassment officer. At this point, show them the evidence or documentation you’ve collected if you have any. If the harassment has only been verbal and physical without evidence, still report it. Reporting itself can serve as evidence later on.

If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for the people your abuser could harm in the future. You can do this.

4. Get the Police if Necessary

HR might not be enough. If the harassment is severe, file a police report after you’ve reported with HR. Get a restraining order if you need.

5. Get Legal Help

If your workplace does not adequately address the harassment, or if the situation persists, it may be time to consult with an attorney who specializes in employment law. Just as you should have had a safe place to work, you might need to hold your company accountable for being negligent in providing a safe place to work.

An experienced attorney can guide you through the legal options available to you and help you decide the best course of action, which may include filing a formal complaint or a lawsuit.

Types of harassment that might warrant filing a case could be (but are not limited to):

• if the advances explicitly or implicitly impacts your job in any way
• unwelcome sexual behavior or advances
• inappropriate touching or comments
• physical assaults or threats
• offensive and unwelcome pictures
• pervasive questions about identity
• pervasive questions for sexual behavior
• a hostile work environment

Conclusion

Workplace sexual harassment is a deeply distressing experience. Whatever happened, it is not your fault. You don’t need to carry the shame of someone else’s actions. They chose you use their agency to harm you. That’s on them. I’m sorry you have to deal with this.

You can stand up against sexual harassment to create a workplace culture where everyone can thrive without fear of discrimination or mistreatment.