Are you looking for a “sexual harassment lawyer near me” lately? Well, you are not alone here as sexual harassment has become one of the most common phenomena at the workplaces which is sad. And it is not about that the victims of sexual harassment at the workplace are always females, be it any gender, whosoever suffers at work because of harassment, is a victim and a necessary step must be taken to deal with such situation.
If you have been a victim of sexual harassment, then your state of mind, your reactions are going to be unpredictable but devastating for sure. This will also put a lot of pressure on your career ahead, but you need to think rationally to ensure that your career is safeguarded, and you are not taking any drastic steps to destroy it. It is, of course, easier said than done, but you must think of how you deal with it more maturely and practically by consulting a lawyer. Here are a few tips on how you can deal with sexual harassment at the workplace.
Try to confront the harasser in a peaceful manner
When you are known of the fact that you are being sexually harassed, the first step you can take is to confront the harasser peacefully. you can peacefully tell him/her that the behavior is not correct, and it is bothering you. You can quietly tell them some incidents where you felt uncomfortable and then once you are done talking, you can keep a written note with yourself that on this particular date you tried speaking with the harasser about their bothering activities along with their response.
Keep a written record of the harassment incidents
Memory is short-lived. Thus, whenever any kind of harassment takes place with you, make sure that you are writing it down so that you do not forget the details of it if the matter goes to the court or the higher authorities at the workplace. Write down the date, time, details, witnesses involved, and all the important things that you remember. If it is possible, you can ask the witnesses to write it down for you about the incident. Just ensure that you are being accurate in making the records and store them in a safe place.
Report the incident to human resources
Another vital thing to do if you are sexually harassed at the workplace is to report it to the human resources department. It is always in your best interest to let the supervisor know in writing about the incidents happening at the workplace and how it is affecting your productivity. According to your employee handbook, the human resources department might start the investigation of the incident and talk to the harasser about it, but it is always a wise thing to keep a record that you reported it to HR.
File the complaint with EEOC
If you feel that your employer or the human resources department is not taking any action against the harasser even after you report it, you can straightway go ahead and file the complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC). But remember that the complaint with the EEOC must be filed within 180 days of the incident or depending upon what your state law mentions.
Hire a sexual harassment lawyer
If you are extremely concerned about how your workplace or your employer is going to handle your sexual harassment complaint, you must always take consultation from a good sexual harassment lawyer near me who can help you understand your rights, your options in the case, and the way forwards and what all needs to be done. A lawyer will tell you what might happen if you decide to file a lawsuit against the harasser and what can be the outcome of it. If you experience retaliation because you filed a sexual harassment complaint, then getting in touch with an attorney is a must here. It is illegal to retaliate against you if you have filed a sexual harassment complaint and taking a legal route would be in your best interest in this scenario.
