Even The Odds In Your Fight For Employee Rights
Photo of American flag for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labour Day

How to handle sexual harassment at work

On Behalf of | May 14, 2021 | Sexual Harassment At Work

If you think you have been sexually harassed at your Florida job, there are steps that may help you protect yourself. First, you should determine whether what has happened constitutes sexual harassment.

Identifying sexual harassment

There are certain elements that must be in place to identify whether workplace sexual harassment has occurred, and it is not always straightforward. For example, not only must the person be offended, but the situation must be one that a reasonable person would consider harassment. You could feel sexually harassed if you observe a situation that you are not directly involved in. Sexual harassment generally also needs to be pervasive or serious, and determining this might also be somewhat subjective.

What to do

It is usually best to tell the person to stop if possible so that there is no ambiguity about the situation. You should then consult the employee handbook to find out what your company’s policy is on sexual harassment and what steps you should take in the workplace to report it. If you make a verbal report, you might also want to follow up by putting it in writing. This should include as many specific details as possible.

What your company should do

You are supposed to be protected from retaliation for reporting harassment, and your company should do a thorough investigation. If they do not or you are unsatisfied with their response for some other reason, you might want to consult an attorney. You may also want to consult an attorney if you are uncertain whether sexual harassment has occurred or if your company does not have a sexual harassment policy and you do not know how to proceed.

It is still not uncommon for people to worry that reporting harassment will affect their career. However, companies are increasingly aware of their responsibility to address workplace sexual harassment. An attorney may be able to help you determine if your rights have been violated and what to do in response.