Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
One of the most important things to know about sexual harassment in the workplace is that anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment. Men, women, and non-binary employees can be subject to pervasive and hostile sexual advances or comments.
Sexual harassment in the workplace is behavior characterized by the making of unwelcome and inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances in a workplace or other professional situation. This includes, but is not limited to, touching, comments, showing pornographic material, and could even lead to assault.
When sexual harassment continues unchecked in the workplace, it can create a hostile work environment for employees, resulting in demotions, firing, or constructive discharge, which occurs when the work environment is so hostile that it would force a reasonable person to resign. Furthermore, if the sexual harassment and hostile work environment is not addressed, the offender can continue harassing employees, cultivating an atmosphere in which no one can be productive or happy.
If you believe you are being sexually harassed in the workplace, follow these steps to address the issue and mitigate the situation.
- Document
When someone begins sexually harassing you, or has been harassing you for some time, it’s important to document every interaction and comment. An employment attorney in Columbus, Ohio, will be able to go over these documents and notes compiled over time and determine the severity of the harassment and help you determine the next steps.
- Report
After compiling documentation of sexual harassment, the next step is to report the interaction and comments to your company’s human resource department. Another important part of this is documenting the report via email or hard copy. Make sure you have proof that you complained, in writing. The best way to do this is to send an email and bcc yourself, so you have a copy of it. The human resources representative should then conduct an internal investigation into the offenses and begin mitigation processes. Unfortunately, sometimes these mitigations or investigations don’t result in a solution. If sexual harassment still persists, contact a sexual harassment attorney in Columbus, Ohio.
- Work with a Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Columbus, Ohio
A Columbus sexual harassment attorney will be able to help you sift through documentation and build a case for your workplace harassment. If you believe that you are being sexually harassed at work, a sexual harassment attorney in Columbus, Ohio will educate you on the labor laws and regulations that exist to protect employees in workplace harassment situations.
Finding the right sexual harassment lawyer in Columbus, Ohio shouldn’t be hard or place you under undue stress. The legal team atThe Friedmann Firm is ready to help you navigate the process necessary to resolve the harassment in the workplace. Call The Friedmann Firm or visit our website www.thefriedmannfirm.com to schedule a free consultation with an experienced and understanding sexual harassment attorney in Columbus, Ohio.