How to Know Your Rights with Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment in the workplace can vary from unwanted physical contact to sexually offensive jokes or comments, to the display of sexually offensive materials. As awareness has increased, the victim's rights in sexual harassment cases have been legally clarified and many companies mandate sexual harassment awareness training for all employees. Here's how to know your rights if sexual harassment takes place in the workplace.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Copy of your company's sexual harassment policy, if one exists

1. Tell your harasser that what he or she is are doing, saying, or displaying is inappropriate. This may be the end of the harassment, if the person didn't know or realize that this action was offensive to you.
2. Move to the next step if the harassment continues. Report the harassment to your supervisor, or, if the supervisor is perpetrating the harassment, to the manager above your supervisor.
3. Ask the manager or your Human Resources manager for a copy of your company's sexual harassment policy.
4. File the official sexual harassment complaint form that a manager offers you.
5. Find out from the person taking the complaint how the investigation will proceed. Ask when you can expect to receive the results.
6. Contact the federal US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a copy of "The Facts on Sexual Harassment" (see Resources below) if the manager does not fulfill his or her duty, or if you're experiencing retaliation.

Tips & Warnings

• Document the facts about the sexual harassment and keep your notes in a safe place. If there is any visual material involved that you could take a photo of, do it surreptitiously, perhaps with a camera phone.
• Sexual harassment is demeaning and can affect your productivity at work. Consequently, your own job may be in jeopardy if you don't report harassment. There are laws in place to protect you; know your rights.