Sexual harassment in workplace is a serious offense and is more common than you might think. It’s a prevalent crime that is not exclusive to women. Anyone can be a perpetrator or victim of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment includes unwanted sexual advances, such as inappropriate touching, sexual jokes, sharing pornography, sending sexual messages or requiring sexual favors in exchange for a promotion or job security. Although defining sexual harassment may seem straightforward, it is not always so obvious.
“Sexual harassment in the workplace is seldom egregious. “Most of the time, it is masked in mild banter, inoffensive comments that are accompanied by sexual gestures or tones, or awkward but seemingly innocuous statements that portray people of a certain gender – usually women – in a negative light.”
This creates a gray area that makes it easy for perpetrators to get away with their conduct, many victims do not want to draw attention, so they keep it to themselves, thinking it will get better. Some victims are extremely concerned about retaliation, including job loss, should they report the harassment.
However, if someone is creating a hostile work environment and making you feel uncomfortable, you should report it.
There are many forms of workplace harassment, and anyone can be impacted. Understanding and identifying workplace harassment is the first step in resolving it.
Why reporting workplace harassment is important?
The importance of reporting any form of workplace harassment, because there may be others who have already reported similar offenses by the same person (or group of people). And if nobody has reported it yet, then it is even more important to call attention to it. You never know how many others might have been impacted by that perpetrator, regardless of whether or not they chose to report it.
Many organizations have formal policies for reporting workplace harassment. Make sure you check your employee handbook or, if you are committed to reporting, ask your apropriate department how to go about doing so.
How to report workplace harassment
If your employer doesn’t have a formal reporting process in place, here are some of the steps that you can follow in a nonviolent situation:
If the harassment does not involve physical violence, try to resolve the situation directly with the perpetrator. Approach them in a private manner and explain why you feel you are being harassed. If the situation seems too dangerous to do so, then keeping yourself safe is the top priority.
Consider escalating the issue to your immediate manager – unless, of course, your manager is the perpetrator. Bring the issue to the attention of apropriate department if your attempts to resolve it with the harasser fail. If you can, provide evidence, such as screenshots, texts, emails and eyewitness accounts. If your company uses HR software, file complaints through the appropriate portal to ensure everything is documented.
If you feel that your managers, HR and company management did not deal with your case satisfactorily, get in touch with the agency in your country, which can investigate the incident impartially. Some large municipalities have their own laws and agencies regulating workplace conduct, in which case a victim may make a claim through that municipality.
What to avoid when facing workplace harassment!
- When dealing with workplace harassment, you should avoid a few behaviors. Do not retaliate. Retaliation can escalate the issue and will often make matters more complicated. Instead, escalate the issue properly, and let your HR professionals handle things from there.
- Do not complain to co-workers. Your colleagues do not have much power to change anything and will likely water down your version of events if they are called to testify. Also, it’s important to remember that your co-workers all have different relationships with each other. You never know how that person feels about the perpetrator and how you may be muddying the waters if you are talking negatively about them (even if it is warranted).
- Do not keep quiet. You should always report any form of harassment, and it should be handled accordingly. Remaining quiet will not make the perpetrator’s behavior go away. All harassment incidents should be reported, and all complaints should be thoroughly investigated.
Prepared for the bublication by: Group Respect in frames of the project of Erasmus+ “Can we talk” in Esch/Alzette, 27th Nov. 2022. Literature and sources: Writers David Cotriss and Matt D’Angelo, Google images
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