In the business world and across many workplaces of all kinds, there is a hierarchy among employees. Entry level employees are at the bottom of that pyramid.
When you go to work you should be able to expect that you are working in a safe environment where you feel comfortable. It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure that your workplace is safe and secure.
However, in some cases entry level employees become targets for harassment and intimidation.
Sexual harassment is common between entry level employees and other people in the workplace because it is believed that entry level employees have more to lose and won’t speak out about the harassment.
Sexual harassment is defined as any unwanted sexual advances, physical or verbal harassment of a sexual nature, sexually charged jokes about you or a particular gender or sexual favors in exchange for perks.
The harasser can be male or female, and harassment can take place between members of the same gender.
It is important to understand that employees are protected against sexual harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is in charge of overseeing these protections at a federal level, in addition to protections offered at the state and local levels.
If you are an entry level worker and have been the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, you have rights and protections even if it is incredibly intimidating to file a report against a senior member of your company.
What To Do
Filing a sexual harassment claim is stressful. Not only did you suffer through the incident itself, but you must repeat it when you file a report and that means you must relive it over and over again.
When it comes to taking action, you need to gather as much evidence as possible, you should figure out who you should file your report with and you should consider speaking with an experienced employment attorney to determine the best course of action.
Gather Evidence
As the victim of sexual harassment, you must gather as much evidence as possible to strengthen your case. You should document the incident in as much detail as possible, noting everything that happened, the day and time it took place and the names of people who were involved, as well as anyone who might have witnessed it.
If there are witnesses, speak with them to find out what they saw or heard.
This can be helpful when you file your report. In some cases there could be security camera footage of the incident, so find out if there is and get copies of the tapes. Also make copies of any relevant emails, text messages or voicemails that support your claim.
Reporting
Most companies have a human resources department, or at the very least a manager who doubles as a human resources representative. This is where you should file your initial report of sexual harassment.
When you file the report, make a note of the reaction to the report. Also note their response to the incident and whether or not corrective action was taken.
In some cases, the person who serves as the HR representative is also the person who harassed you, in which case you should report to another manager or even the owner, depending on the size of the company.
In either case, though, your employer is expected to take corrective action in response to your report. If nothing is done, then you should consider filing a claim with the EEOC, or filing a private lawsuit against your employer.
Get a Free Evaluation
If you filed a sexual harassment report and no action was taken, then you have reason to file a claim against your employer.
Everything about your case is stressful, so having someone to advocate on your behalf can make a huge difference, not to mention the fact that an employment attorney can help you to obtain the biggest settlement possible.
When you file a sexual harassment lawsuit you could be entitled to lost wages, compensation for emotional distress and even legal fees.
Many employment attorneys will meet with you for a reduced-fee or free consultation, at which point they will evaluate your case and determine your best course of action.
They will also cover their fee structure, and in many cases employment lawyers will work on a contingency basis so that there are no out of pocket expenses up front and you will only pay if you win your case.
Though working with an employment attorney does not guarantee that you will win your case, having an expert working on your behalf will greatly improve the odds of a favorable outcome.
For more information about how an employment lawyer might be able to help you, fill out a free case evaluation form.
