Unfortunately, workplace harassment is commonplace in its many different forms. One of the most serious, which is often difficult to tackle, is sexual harassment, as managers in particular believe that when men and women mix as workers it is inevitable.
These days sexual harassment in any firm is both illegal and unacceptable so if your employer hasn’t done anything about your sexual harassment you should take action against him.
When Your Boss is Ignoring Sexual Harassment
You cannot always be sure that your boss has noticed you being sexually harassed, so you should tell or remind him/her that you are being sexually harassed and you haven’t been able to do anything about it.
Try to arrange a meeting with your boss where you can talk in a calm and collective manner of what is happening seemingly behind his/her back.
Describe in detail what happens when the sexual harassment takes place whether it is a form of physical or verbal harassment.
Both are unacceptable in the workplace. You may have to swap places with another worker so that you can minimize the sexual harassment as it is affecting your ability to focus on your job.
Of course, if you feel comfortable to do so you could tactfully tell the harasser that it is both unwanted and is unacceptable while you are doing your job.
What to Do If Your Company Is Ignoring the Sexual Harassment
After you have discussed the sexual harassment with your boss and nothing is done to eliminate the problem, the next step to take is to get in contact with your company's human resources (HR) department.
This report submitted to the HR must be a detailed account of the sexual harassment. You should provide dates, times and precise locations in your workplace where the sexual harassment took place.
As soon as you realized your employer wasn’t going to do anything you should ensure you have as many details as possible and get them backed up with co-worker witnesses and even photos and audio of the encounters.
If your workplace has surveillance cameras in place, you may be able to access the footage as proof of the sexual harassment incidences.
As soon as you have presented this evidence to your HR department then you would expect them to react and inform the relevant employee that sexual harassment is both illegal and unacceptable in the workplace.
How to File a Workplace Sexual Harassment Claim
If all fails with your HR department, you can also file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
This is the federal body that enforces the law. Once you have filed a complaint, one of their advisors will contact your employer and advise them of your complaint.
If this still fails and the sexual harassment still doesn’t stop and the EEOC sees that nothing has been done in your workplace regarding your sexual harassment claim it will try reconciliation first.
If this fails, you may be able to file a lawsuit to enforce the law following an investigation.
Compensation for Sexual Harassment at Work
The amount of compensation a plaintiff can be awarded for sexual harassment depends on the extent of the damages.
Compensation could include any lost wages for lost wages and missed career possibilities. If the victim has suffered emotionally from the sexual harassment she or he could claim compensatory damages called pain and suffering.
It may be possible to claim punitive damages if there is proof that the employer knew about the sexual harassment but deliberately decided to nothing about it.
Sometimes, sexual harassment victims who have lodged a complaint may be offered reduced hours as a punishment for complaining and they may even be denied the chance of promotion. Some may even lose their jobs. In these cases, back pay may be awarded in a sexual harassment lawsuit.
How an Attorney Can Help File a Claim
The EEOC may recommend an employment lawyer to you to help prepare your sexual harassment lawsuit.
An employment lawyer is experienced in dealing with cases of discrimination like yours and will study all the evidence you have before deciding how to approach the lawsuit.
