If you are a physical therapist and you have suffered sexual harassment at the workplace, you should report the incident by following the steps in your employer’s anti-harassment policy.
Be sure to gather evidence that documents the harassment you endured as well as the damages you suffered. You should file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and seek the guidance of an experienced employment law attorney.
Steps You Can Take
Report the Incident – If you are a physical therapist who has suffered sexual harassment at work, you should check to see if your employer has an anti-harassment policy in place.
If your company does have a policy, be sure to follow the steps in that written policy. The policy should give you various options for reporting instances of sexual harassment, including the option of filing a formal complaint.
If there is not a policy, you should speak with a supervisor. When it comes to talking with a supervisor, you can talk with your own supervisor, the supervisor of the individual who has been harassing you, or any other supervisor within the company or organization.
You should explain – in detail – what happened and then ask for that individual’s help in putting a stop to the sexual harassment and in properly addressing the issue.
Be sure to document what happened when you spoke with the supervisor and their response, or their lack of a response. Maintaining thorough documentation is essential to the success of your claim for sexual harassment in the workplace.
Gather Evidence – To have a successful sexual harassment in the workplace claim, you must have evidence that documents the harassment you endured as well as the damages that you suffered. These documents and supporting evidence may include –
- Any communication from the harasser, including voicemails, text messages, emails, written notes, and so forth;
- Your complaints and how the company responded, or failed to respond to your complaints;
- Your employment or personnel file and records;
- The employee handbook and your employer’s written sexual harassment policies – if there is one;
- Testimony from any witnesses to the harassment;
- Photos or videos of the incidents that occurred; and
- Bills and proof of expenses associated to the sexual harassment that you suffered in the workplace.
The more supporting evidence and documentation that you can provide, the more likely you are to have a successful claim and be awarded compensation for your damages suffered when you were sexually harassed in the workplace as a physical therapist.
Filing A Claim For Sexual Harassment As A Physical Therapist
When you file a claim for sexual harassment as a physical therapist, you – as a victim – must follow a specific complaint process.
If your employer has harassed you, or if they do not protect you from the harassment, you must typically file a complaint against them with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
This must be done before you are allowed to pursue a private lawsuit against your employer to recoup your losses.
The EEOC will investigate your allegations and your case then they may choose to file a lawsuit against your employer on your behalf.
If the EEOC chooses to not pursue your claim, or if the investigation doesn’t provide help, you will be given a Right to Sue letter from the EEOC
. After the EEOC has given you a Right to Sue letter, you can file a federal lawsuit against your employer, but you only have 90 days to get that lawsuit underway.
If you wait too long, you cannot pursue a claim and recover damages. Time is of the essence, and an employment law attorney understand the importance of filing all the documents in a timely manner and providing supporting evidence for a successful claim.
Get A Free Case Evaluation
If you have suffered sexual harassment as a physical therapist, you should enlist the help of an employment law attorney who handles such cases in your area.
An employment law attorney will investigate the incident and gather supporting evidence and documentation. With the help of a lawyer, you are much more likely to prevail and receive compensation to cover your losses. Your lawyer will review the details of your case and come up with a fair value for a settlement.
Time is of the essence, so do not wait too long to get a claim underway. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to share the details of your case with an attorney who handles such cases in your area.
