Working in the office should be an enjoyable and progressive experience. Unfortunately, there are those instances where employees experience a toxic work culture. Racism, gender discrimination, and sexual harassment in the workplace can have a negative effect on anyone’s work experience.
For a company to thrive, it has to have an office culture that doesn’t allow room for these problems, especially sexual harassment.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, you have rights. Understanding the signs, how to prevent it, and knowing what to do if it happens can make all the difference. Here is everything you need to know about sexual harassment in the workplace.
What is Sexual Harassment?
By definition, sexual harassment can be any unwelcome sexual advance. It can be any activity in the workplace that creates a hostile, intimidating, or uncomfortable work environment. Unwanted conduct that is sexual in any way can be viewed as sexual harassment.
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), there are specific classifications for sexual harassment. Someone who experiences sexual harassment may be a woman or man. The harasser also doesn’t have to be of the opposite sex.
It can be the victim’s supervisor, a board member, someone from a different department, a co-worker, or any affiliation to the workplace. For example, a vendor or a customer can be the person committing sexual harassment in the workplace. The victim can be classified as anyone affected by unwanted sexual conduct.
How to Prevent an Office Culture That Allows Sexual Harassment
In most companies, the human resources department handles complaints about sexual harassment in the workplace. One way to foster an office culture that prevents this type of behavior is to have a zero-tolerance policy.
It is up to the organization to work collectively to combat stereotypes, bias, and gender discrimination. Proactively confronting barriers such as this can help prevent sexual assault and harassment. Empowering workers to step up and report any sexual harassment can improve the safety of your employees.
Your company should have robust processes to investigate any reports of sexual harassment. There should be significant consequences if misconduct occurs. Companies also need to have parameters to end retaliation when someone comes forth.
Read more on how to build a culture of excellence here.
What to Do If You Have Experienced Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
There are a few things to do when you have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. The first step is to communicate. If possible, you should directly address the harassment with the harasser.
You want to tell them to stop and that you find their actions to be unwanted. Make sure it is clear that what they are doing is inappropriate. You also want to record the incidents in which you felt intimidated or that you were in a hostile environment.
Record things like the time, date, place, and the details of the incident each time it occurs. You also want to note who the harasser was, any possible witnesses, and if anything was said or done about the situation. It is a good idea to keep your records in a place that you can access outside of work.
The next step is to report the sexual harassment in your workplace to human resources. You can also make an external report to the EEOC with the guidance of the best sexual harassment lawyer NYC, who can provide expert advice and legal support throughout the process.
The Best Work Environment Is One Where Everyone Feels Comfortable
Sexual harassment in the workplace can create a hostile work environment. But, when you understand what sexual harassment is, how to prevent it, and what to do, it can make all the difference in the workplace experience. If you found this helpful, take a look at similar content by visiting our website today.