In today’s technology advanced world, emails and text messages are commonplace. They are also common forms of communication on the job. If you have received an inappropriate text or email from a coworker, manager, or your employer, then you may have suffered sexual harassment.
As an example, your phone alert goes off and you see that you have received a text from a familiar work-related number. You open the text, expecting to see a work-related message, but instead, you see an inappropriate photo, or you get a sexual message that is unexpected and unwelcome. If this happens one time, it could be considered an accident, but if it occurs more often and is frequent, it will be considered as sexual harassment.
You should always document any of these kinds of incidents and maintain supporting evidence and documentation. You may be able to pursue a claim against your employer should this kind of behavior persist. You do have rights and there are protections in place, including state and federal laws that prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace.
What to Do if You Receive Inappropriate Texts or Emails
If this has happened to you, you should tell the person who sent the explicit email or text to stop and that you don’t appreciate those kinds of messages. You should then report the incident to your employer. This should be done by notifying a manager or a supervisor. You should document what was said and when it was said, you should also document the response that you received from your employer.
It is important to have evidence that you did report the message situation. You may want to put it in writing or send an email to your manager or supervisor. You should retain the inappropriate email or text message, so you do have proof that it was sent to you and that you had legitimate reason to file a complaint with your employer because of the situation.
You should then document the response, and if the messages stopped or it the person sent additional messages or if they threatened you or made any other inappropriate remarks. You will also want to make note of the punishment or reaction of your employer. They should provide you with a written response regarding your complaint, and you should keep that as supporting documentation.
Sexual Harassment Depends on the Frequency and Severity
While sending sexual images via text message or email to fellow workers or employees in inappropriate, several things are considered when determining if you are the victim of sexual harassment and you can pursue a claim against your employer. When you notify your employer and file your complaint, you should keep evidence of what you said and what was done.
Your employer will most likely give you a written response to say that the matter is being addressed, but if they don’t respond, be sure to take note of that. You should maintain thorough documentation and evidence to support your claim, so you can prove that this incident took place.
Speak With a Workplace Sexual Harassment Attorney
If you have been the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, you may want to consider enlisting the help of an employment law attorney. Employment law attorneys are familiar with the state and federal laws that apply to your situation and will know the best way to proceed with your sexual harassment claim against your employer.
When you consult with your lawyer, they will help determine the best way to proceed with your claim. Your attorney will work to gather supporting evidence and documentation. Ask about how and when your attorney expects payment as some employment law attorneys take cases on the contingency basis and are not paid until you win the claim and recover compensation for your damages.
To share the details of your claim with an employment law attorney who handles such cases in your area, complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page. There is a statute of limitations or limited time for pursuing a claim, so don’t wait until it is too late to recover compensation for your damages. You will want to make sure you stop any future instances of sexual harassment in your place of employment, and by pursuing a claim against your employer you may do just that.
