With social media frenzy, sexting workshops, teen cellphone sexting and interactive online activities you can now engage in, the chances of harassment & bullying have also jacked up. Managing sexual harassment complaints or attempts at the workplace is certainly challenging and requires a more diligent approach. Essentially, you need to stay calm and undeterred while acting with sagacity and discretion to thwart any such risky vibes. While handling sexual harassment at your workplace may seem rather uphill and stressful, consider the following approaches to stay safe.
Act With Discretion
If you have been a victim of serious sexual harassment, then hiring the services of a professional law expert in your local area can be very helpful. According to attorney Ravi Sattiraju, you need to be more confident and report such attempts immediately. However, all such attempts do not necessarily have to go to the court where you sue the other party. At times simply threatening the person of complaints or legal proceedings would work. Just saying ‘you’re making me uneasy’ gets the message across.
Note Down Any Harassment
Do not forget to note down any such attempts in a personal log or notebook. This can later be shared as evidence in case you plan to sue the harasser. Make sure you record all details of the action including time and date, the person responsible, witnesses, and how it affected you. You can also have the witnesses write a statement draft to help augment your harassment case. Be more objective and unbiased about your written account and save it at a place where you can easily access it for later use.
Keep A Check On Your Performance records
It would help if you gather all your work records, performance appraisals and accolades received including KPIs achieved as proof of your excellent work quality & ethics. This is important because some harassers might use your job performance to defend themselves against your claim or filed complaints. The stored performance dossier will help foil such defensive approaches from the other party and peg you up in a stronger position.
Immediately Report the behavior To Your Supervisor and Human Resources
It is vital that you act fast and immediately report the behavior to your supervisor. The employer must know about any such conduct deviations, as he is legally responsible for addressing the behavioral actions of any co-worker or subordinate. Draft an email or write a letter to the supervisor and your HR department with all necessary details, so they can take prompt action. If you feel the attempt was mild, then verbally report it to your supervisor. It will still trigger an investigation by the concerned personnel.
Report it to Senior Management
It is mandatory to escalate the sexual harassment complaints to your senior management if the HR personnel and your immediate supervisor fail to conduct an investigation or professionally handle your reported issue. Do not leave out any details in your written report, and include witness accounts to strengthen your case. You should also talk to the witnesses in case they have filed any similar complaints in the past against the accused worker. You can also share these with the top management to improve your case.