Despite legislation protecting workers from sexual harassment, it still takes place. If you are experiencing sexual harassment at work, the first step to take is to file a complaint at work.
You can file your complaint by email if that is what you prefer, but you must include all the relevant information about your sexual harassment for it to be taken seriously by your employer.
You should also compile and send the email while the facts about it are still fresh in your mind. If you don’t, your employer will think you have no real case for sexual harassment and will just ignore your complaint.
What to Include in Your Email Complaint Letter
When you start to write your email, you should first include the time, date and where the harassment took place. You should mention the name of your employer, your job title and how long you have been employed.
If you can, you should mention the names and contact details of any witnesses who could verify the sexual harassment incidence.
The next paragraph in your email should be a full description of the sexual harassment. You should provide the full name of the harasser, his/her job and your working relationship.
Even if it is embarrassing to describe the sexual harassment, you should provide as many details as you can, such as was the harasser requesting any sexual favors due to his/her position in the organization?
Was there any forced sexual contact involved or was it verbal? Were you threatened if you filed a complaint?
The final paragraph in the email should describe how the experience affected you, emotionally, psychologically or physically, and the impact it may have on your work.
You should not forget to mention that you would like the contents of the email to be kept confidential. Later, if an investigation is conducted the result of it could of course be publicly circulated.
There are sometimes incidences of sexual harassment which involve a senior employee harasser a junior employee. If this has happened to you don’t worry too much about it as the law protects you and any witness from victimization when you file a complaint of sexual harassment.
Sample Complaint Email
To the Attention of the Manager and HR Department
I would like to draw your attention to an incident that has taken place at work which has left be both distressed and despondent. My physical and mental state now makes it difficult for me to work to my normal high standard.
I have been happily working for your company for several years until the day Mr. John Jones, my supervisor, made sexual advances towards me. This all happened just before the Thanksgiving Holiday at about 4 pm, shortly before the working day was over.
Witnesses to it were Miss Wilson and Mr. Figero, who are members of the same team. It wasn’t just words, but he physically touched me on my breasts.
It all came out of the blue and I was lost for words as I had always had a good working relationship with him. As soon as this happened, I pushed him away and asked him to stop. I told him that his behavior was not only unethical, but unprofessional, and I would not put up with it.
I would like the administration and the Human Resources Department to look into this serious matter of sexual harassment as it is illegal to sexually harass an employee. If this happens again, I will file a lawsuit against Mr. Jones as it is my legal right to do so.
My request to you is to stop this sexual harassment and handle the situation yourself and solve the problem.
Fill out the Free Case Evaluation
Your employer probably has several complaints like yours to deal with every week but you should expect a response in a reasonable period of time.
If your employer shows no interest in following through your sexual harassment allegation you should consider working with an employment lawyer who will work on your behalf to file a lawsuit against the employee to get the compensation you deserve.
What you should remember the accused will mount his/her own defense and may even deny the sexual harassment ever took place. You will need a lawyer to put a case together so a settlement can be reached.
Additional Resources
