Sexual harassment in the workplace is prohibited. If an employer doesn’t address sexual harassment complaints, or if they allow sexual harassment to happen in the workplace, then you do have rights and resources are available.
You can file a former complaint against your employer, and if issues don’t get resolved properly, then you can file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your damages.
If you have suffered discrimination or harassment in the workplace, maintain evidence and documentation to support your claim and to prove what happened.
Men and women can both suffer from sexual harassment, so if you are a man who is sexually harassed at work you do have the same rights and protections as a female in the same situation.
How Males May Experience Sexual Harassment At Work
A man can be sexually harassed at work just as a woman would. There are many ways that sexual harassment takes place. It can come in the form of unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate touching, sending inappropriate texts or emails, telling sexual jokes, making sexist comments, negative talk about the gender, or displaying or posting inappropriate images or comments.
As an example, you may be at work and a female manager may tell you that if you will go out with her you will not regret it and you will move up the ladder in the office much faster.
You could receive unwelcome touching, such as a manager rubbing up against you or hugging you repeatedly. You may be sent a text message from a coworker that includes nude photos, or a manager may make inappropriate gestures.
Even sexist comments, such as “that is woman’s work and a man can’t handle it” or “men are crybabies and cannot handle the job” could be considered sexual harassment if it is an ongoing problem.
Always keep any supporting evidence or documentation, such as any memos, emails, or texts. If there is an inappropriate photo or poster displayed, discreetly get a digital photo. If there are witnesses, ask for statements from them.
Check to see if the incident could have been caught by a video camera or recorded by some other device.
Any evidence that you can gather to show what happened can help support your claim and show that sexual harassment is a problem in your workplace.
Be sure to jot down the details of the incident while it is fresh in your memory. Document what was said, who said it when it was said, and who heard the conversation or witnessed the event.
Women and men both can sexually harass a man. If you have been the victim of sexual harassment from either gender, don’t hesitate to act and respond.
You should tell the person who is harassing you to stop immediately. You should then report the incident to your manager or to a higher-ranking supervisor or human resources.
What To Do If Experienced Workplace Sexual Harassment As A Male
If you have been subjected to sexual harassment as a male, you should gather supporting evidence and documentation. You should tell the person who is harassing you to stop right away.
You will then need to file a complaint with your employer. Keep proof of your complaint because you will need that later if the claim must advance to its next level.
Gather any supporting evidence and documentation that shows what happened.
If your employer doesn’t resolve the issue, if they take no action, or if the harassment continues, you will want to advance with a complaint filed at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
That complaint can be filed online or in person at an office. You can call the EEOC to speak with an EEOC employee and to learn the specifics about the process.
The EEOC will work to resolve the matter, and they may tell you to proceed with a lawsuit against your employer to recover compensation for your damages.
How An Employment Law Attorney Could Help
If you are a male who has been sexually harassed in the workplace, you should enlist the help of an employment law attorney who handles sexual harassment cases.
An attorney will be familiar with the state and federal laws and will gather supporting evidence and documentation for your claim.
You do have a limited time to pursue a claim, which is usually 180 days from the date of the incident, so time is of the essence. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form today.
