Harassment, either in your office or anywhere else, should not be tolerated at any cost. Women generally have a strong sixth sense, which instantly tells them if something is off. A wrong touch or an indirect conversation won’t take them long enough to realize if something is right or not.
Harassment is not related to sexual offenses only; it can be based on race and religion as well. Harassment is immoral and is also considered a crime in the court of law. If there’s someone in your workplace that engages in name-calling, offensive jokes, capturing offensive pictures, threatening people, or intimidating them, then it’s your cue to report this crime.
If you also feel unsafe in your workplace because of someone or the environment altogether, then here are some ways to deal with it.
File an Internal Complaint
Almost every company handbook consists of information regarding workplace harassment. They tell you if you can file an internal complaint about the person and to whom it can be done. If there are no rules mentioned in the book, you can directly contact U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to learn about your legal rights and file a complaint against the person.
Report the Crime
Another thing that you can do is report the crime immediately to anyone who looks after such affairs in your organization. Read the manual thoroughly and see if there are any policies in your organization about it. You can file a written report or talk about it in a meeting with HR, a supervisor, or anyone else who deals with harassment cases.
It’s important to keep a copy of the complaint for future reference. Also, if they respond to you through mail or email, keep a copy of it.
Write Down Everything
You can forget about the small details, which is why it’s highly recommended to write down everything that happened with you. Include dates, location, time, etc., in your journal, along with the name of witnesses (if any).
Write down about the person to who you reported this crime and mention how they responded to it. Keep this record safe with you because people might like to read it in the future. It’s important to be specific in mentioning the details so you don’t forget anything.
Include other Coworkers
If a person is openly harassing people in the workplace, then there’s a chance that they might have done it with other people as well. You can form your community by asking other people if something similar has happened to them.
They might be scared to report the crime, but with additional support, there’s a chance that they might come on board.
Keep Records
If you have been harassed by someone who is your supervisor or your manager, then there’s a possibility that they might put it on your performance. To be on the safe side, you need to keep records of everything, including work performance, evaluations, letters quoting your quality of work, etc., as proof.
When the company reviews your profile, they will see that your performance was never an issue, and it’s all because of the person’s behavior. Keep all of this information at home so you don’t risk falling into the wrong hands.
Find Witnesses of the Crime
Safely talk to your colleagues if they have witnessed the harassment that happened to you. Having a witness on your side can save you from the harasser’s wrath and will make them suffer the consequences. You can privately talk to people and see if they can help you in making a strong case.
Ask for External Support
Last but not least, you can also ask for external support to help you deal with the situation. The aftermath of harassment is difficult to deal with, so it’s necessary to have someone on your side. Working in a toxic environment can make you lose your mind and ruin your peace. Once the matter resolves, you can leave the job and search for a new one as well.
Meanwhile, get all the support you need to clear your mind and start a new job. Don’t feel alone in the process, and be firm in fighting the harasser.
