If you are a call center worker and you have been sexually harassed at work, report the incident by following the steps in your employer’s anti-harassment policy, if there is one.
If none, report the incident or incidents to your HR department or supervisor. Gather any evidence documenting the harassment and the effect it has had on your emotional or physical health.
File a complaint with the EEOC and seek the legal help of an employment law attorney. You may be able to recover damages through a lawsuit against the individual or your employer.
Report the Incident
If you are a call center worker and have been sexually harassed at your workplace, it is important to register the incident or incidents formally through the normal channels your employer has made available.
Your employer may have an anti-harassment policy outlined in the employment handbook. If you are not sure of the policy or if one actually exists, you should report the incident to a supervisor.
This could be your own supervisor, assuming this is not the same person who has been harassing you, or the supervisor of the harasser. Failing that, you should approach your HR and attempt to get the behavior stopped.
The company policy, or advice from the supervisor or HR may suggest what you should do about reporting the harassment further including filing a complaint and what evidence you should include.
Gather Evidence
One of the problems of reporting sexual harassment is that it may be disregarded or ignored unless there is evidence available which shows a pattern of unacceptable and unsolicited behavior which has had demonstrable negative effects on either your emotional or physical health or both.
Employers are expected to provide an environment in which you can work without the fear of being sexually harassed. Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual advance or sexual conduct which interferes with your ability to work or creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment.
You will need as much supporting evidence as you can obtain to support your complaint. This could include any of the following:
- evidence of communication by the person harassing you: emails, letters, text messages, voicemail messages, etc.;
- evidence in the form of photos, video recording or audio recording of harassment;
- copied extract from your company policy on sexual harassment;
- any statements or other testimony from witnesses;
- copies of written complaints or reports to your employer / supervisor;
- responses by your employer/ supervisor;
- your employment file;
- record of visit to a counselor or doctor / psychiatrist regarding the emotional or physical effect on you together with expenses incurred.
Filing a Claim for Sexual Harassment as a Call Center Worker
If you have been sexually harassed at work and have gone through the procedure outlined above, you may decide to take the matter further if the behavior does not stop or your employer is the one harassing you or your employer fails to do anything about the sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment is not acceptable behavior and it is illegal under federal and state employment law. The federal act that makes sexual harassment illegal is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act if 1964.
Sexual harassment is treated the same way as sexual discrimination under the act. State laws on sexual harassment may be in fact stricter than the federal equivalent, depending on the state where you are working.
You should file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) with as much relevant, supporting evidence as possible.
The EEOC will appoint an investigator who will approach your employer to investigate the complaint. The EEOC may be able to stop the behavior from happening or file a lawsuit against the employer on your behalf.
If this fails or the EEOC decides not to pursue the case, they should give you permission to file a private lawsuit against your employer for failing to protect you from sexual harassment at work.
The permission will be in the form of a ‘right to sue’ letter with which you can file a federal lawsuit with the help of an employment attorney.
Get a Free Case Evaluation
You have a better chance of success if you decide to take legal action against your employer if you use an employment lawyer to help you with your claim.
The lawyer can work with you to obtain sufficient evidence to substantiate your case and prepare the paperwork you will need to complete to file the complaint initially to the EEOC and for a lawsuit if this becomes necessary.
