Do you dread going to work not because you do not like your job but because of a specific co-worker, supervisor or another person associated with your employment? While it is common for people to have personality clashes with those they work with, your situation may be more than that. You may feel anxious or stressed and may even consider calling in sick some days because you do not want to deal with your workplace environment.
These feelings may stem from facing sexual harassment on the job. Perhaps a co-worker constantly makes inappropriate remarks about you or other co-workers. Another person could subject you to unwanted touching that makes you feel uncomfortable. Unfortunately, a variety of actions could relate to this type of harassment at work.
Details regarding sexual harassment incidents
You likely understand that not every uncomfortable interaction with another worker constitutes sexual harassment. For example, you may feel anxious talking to your boss just because he or she is in a position of power, and you do not want him or her to think you do not perform your job well for any reason. That uncomfortable situation obviously does not involve sexual harassment.
However, if you feel anxious interacting with your boss because he or she makes sexual advances, touches you without your consent, demands sexual favors in exchange for employment benefits, makes inappropriate remarks about your appearance or other similar actions, you may be facing sexual harassment. It is also important to remember these details regarding such incidents:
- The harasser does not have to hold a position of power over you. Your supervisor, a supervisor in another department, a co-worker, an employer’s agent, a vendor or even a customer could commit sexual harassment.
- You do not welcome the actions committed by the other party.
- Both men and women can be victims or harassers in such situations. Additionally, while men could harass women or vice versa, men could harass other men, and women could harass other women.
- You do not have to personally experience the harassing actions for them to make you uncomfortable or to give you a reason to file a complaint.
Though you may not love your job, you should not feel such a sense of dread due to another person or multiple people causing a toxic work environment.
What are your options?
If you believe you are facing sexual harassment at work, your first step may be to file a complaint with your Florida employer. In many cases, employers take these claims seriously and follow the appropriate procedures to investigate and handle the issue properly. Of course, not all employers do so, and if you find that your complaint goes unaddressed and the harassment continues, you may have reason to take legal action.
