What to do After Workplace Harassment
If a person finds themself dealing with harassment in the workplace, they do not have to sit back and accept it. Instead, they could take proactive steps to put a stop to it and protect themself.
Document Harassment
An employee should keep a record of everything they have had to deal with that constitutes harassment. In cases of verbal or sexual harassment, go back to their desk and write down everything they remember about the encounter as soon as possible: where and when it occurred, what was said or done, and any witnesses to the encounter. If harassment occurred online, take screenshots.
Talk to a Manager
The person’s direct manager is often the first line of defense when an employee is suffering harassment at work. Talk to them about the harassment as soon as possible.
Report It to HR
If a person does not feel comfortable going to their manager, their manager is the one harassing them, or their manager does not take action to prevent further harassment, go to HR and issue a report. If a person provides evidence of the harassment, make sure to keep copies of the documents.
Talk to a Lawyer
If an employer does not deal with or put a stop to harassment in the workplace, an employee needs an Irvine lawyer on their side. A lawyer can offer more information about what to do when when dealing with workplace harassment, what steps a person needs to take next, and how to ensure job prospects are not impacted by potential retaliation.
Dealing with Retaliation
In some cases, an employer or manager may attempt to retaliate against an employee for reporting harassment. Document the retaliation and return to a lawyer for protection.
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