What to Do if Sexually Harassed at Work

Each year, more than 5,500 sexual harassment charges are reported to the federal government. Any offensive or crude acts qualify as sexual harassment, including asking for sexual favors, crude jokes, unwanted touching, making sexually explicit comments, and bringing out sexually suggestive objects. When these acts occur in the workplace, targeted individuals are placed at a disadvantage, making them feel like they are not on equal footing with others.

At Mette Attorneys at Law, we work tirelessly to help individuals voice their concerns about workplace harassment and discrimination. Protecting your rights is essential to workplace equality, and our legal team has spent over four decades doing just that. Our employment law attorneys can explain what steps you should take if you have been the target of workplace harassment in Harrisburg, PA.

Keep Records of Each Incident

Keeping accurate records of each incident will only help to support your claim. If your co-worker or supervisor is making sexually suggestive comments to you, write down the date/time/location of each occurrence and precisely what was said. If other people witnessed the event, write down their names. If the harassment happens through e-mail correspondence, save these e-mails. Documenting the harassment is essential to a successful claim.

Speak with Your Harasser (if Safe to Do So)

Before involving management, speak with the person who is harassing you. This can be stressful, so it’s essential to write down precisely what you plan to say before speaking. Get right to the point. Saying something along the lines of “I felt uncomfortable when you did X or said Y yesterday, and I would like this behavior to stop” will get the message across. Be direct and don’t shy away from the problem. If the individual continues the sexually harassing behavior, then you need to take your concerns to human resources or your supervisor.

Speak to Human Resources or Your Supervisor

Understandably, you do not want to be on bad terms with your co-workers or anybody else you work with. However, the problematic behavior will only continue and even worsen if you do not address it with management. If your company has a human resources (HR) department, schedule an appointment to speak with an HR representative. If your company does not have an HR department, then schedule a time to talk with your supervisor. Before the meeting, gather all information and documentation related to each occurrence of the harassment.

File a Complaint with a Government Agency

Before filing a lawsuit, our legal team recommends filing a complaint with either a state or federal agency. You are allowed to file with both, but through dual filing, when you file with one agency, the complaint will automatically be filed with the other.

Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC)

If the issue is not resolved after speaking with HR or your supervisor, then you should report the incident to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). PHRC handles complaints related to discrimination in employment, education, and housing. After your complaint is filed, an investigation will be conducted into the allegations.

If there is sufficient evidence to move forward (probable cause being found), then the PHRC will work to rectify the issue. If no probable cause is found, your complaint will be dismissed. However, you have the right to appeal this decision. In many cases, you will only have 180 days to file after the discriminatory act.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

The EEOC is a federal agency that mainly handles workplace discrimination. After filing your complaint, the EEOC will investigate to determine if there is probable cause that the accused violated any laws. This investigation will involve reviewing the documentation you provided and conducting interviews with individuals who witnessed the event. If evidence suggests that workplace harassment has occurred, the EEOC will take appropriate steps to resolve the issue.

Our Employment Law Attorneys Can Help

Abusive behavior in the workplace should never be condoned. Thankfully, an employment law attorney can evaluate the incident to determine what state and/or federal laws were violated. If you have been a victim of workplace harassment, our legal team can ensure that necessary measures are taken to address the issue.

This may involve sexual harassment training to help everyone in the workplace understand what type of behavior is unacceptable and what are the appropriate ways to interact with colleagues. Besides working to prevent the issue from occurring again, an employment law attorney will also ensure that you are not demoted or fired due to your complaint.

Acting immediately is essential to protecting your interests. To schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your situation, contact Mette Law online or call (717) 232-5000.