There’s nothing quite worse than experiencing sexual harassment or abuse in the workplace. You hope that the company you work for offers a safe environment and like-minded individuals who are all there to work hard and enjoy the working life.
However, not every colleague has the best intentions for others, which is why it’s important to take care of yourself.
Not only that but it’s important to know what to do in the scenario where you find yourself being harassed or abused within the workplace. It’s a sensitive subject and not something everyone wants to address. However, in order to stop those responsible for doing it again, it’s important to take action.
Here are some tips on how to address sexual harassment in the workplace.
Note down all of your experiences
When it comes to sexual harassment or abuse, it’s important to note down all of your experiences. By documenting dates and details on the harassment or abuse, it’s going to help you in your case of getting justice. If you don’t note down these experiences, then it can make it more difficult when it’s their word against yours.
While that may feel unjust and unfair, it’s important that you back your allegations with evidence, and hopefully should it be needed, the company and any law enforcement can chase witnesses and visual, recorded evidence of these occurrences.
Evaluate your safety
In order to protect yourself, it’s important to evaluate your safety within the workplace once this information comes out. Is the individual a higher-ranking employee? Have they been threatening in the past? Perhaps they’ve threatened to do harm to you if you speak up?
It’s important to evaluate your safety, not to keep quiet but to put in place the relevant safeguarding needs before the information is released.
Speak to someone in confidence within the company
Taking that first step and telling someone of your harassment or sexual abuse is something that can be one of the hardest things to do but it’s necessary. They can be a shoulder of support to lean on, especially as they may be able to help depending on who they are within the company.
If you don’t feel confident speaking to someone within the company, then it’s best to let close family or friends know instead!
Get lawyers involved
When you feel it’s the right time to speak up, get your lawyers involved. It’s important that you know how to file a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse so that you’re able to conduct the process without too much trouble.
Lawyers can help to guide you through the process and to help ensure you’re not having the wool pulled over your eyes.
Take time off to recover
Whenever there’s a traumatic event in life, it’s important to take time off to recover. Chances are, you may need to do this once everything is over. Make sure you’re prioritizing your mental health by taking the time off that you need.
Sexual harassment or abuse is something you want to tackle in the right way, so use these tips to get the help and support you deserve.
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