Steps You Need to Take to Protect Yourself
Though there has been much attention paid to sexual harassment over the past decade, the general consensus is that it’s still a significant problem. In fact, a 2018 report found that four of every five women (81%) and nearly half (43%) of men surveyed said they had witnessed or experienced sexual harassment of some sort.
When you have been subjected to sexual harassment at work, it’s critical that you take the right steps to protect your legal rights. Here’s a checklist of the things you need to do:
- Document everything—Keep copies of anything that can be construed as inappropriate. Keep a journal of statements or actions by the perpetrator that were improper. Though much of sexual harassment is done behind closed doors, the details you provide can be used by investigators to identify similar circumstances.
- Specifically ask the person to stop harassing you—If you don’t, it may appear that your involvement was consensual. It’s often best to do this with witnesses present, so that the harasser cannot claim you were silent about the harassment. When you make the request, be certain to tell the harasser that you find the conduct inappropriate or unwelcome.
- Report the incident to your employer—Before you do this, check your employer’s policy to determine what the process is. Always adhere to any written policy on reporting inappropriate conduct.
- Report the incident to the state or federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission—This is typically required before you can file a lawsuit for sexual harassment.
- As early as possible, hire an experienced and knowledgeable sexual harassment claims attorney
Let the Romero Law Group Protect Your Rights as an Employee
At the Romero Law Group, PLLC, we handle a wide range of legal issues for employees in Westchester County, Rockland County and Orange County in New York; and across Northern New Jersey. We offer a free initial consultation to any employee with a potential employment law dispute. To schedule an appointment, contact our offices online or call us at (631)257-5588.