If you are a social worker who has been sexually harassed on the job, there are resources available to help you.
You should report the incident by following the steps and procedures in your employer’s anti-harassment policy.
You must act promptly and ensure proper protocol are followed. Gather evidence documenting the harassment as well as the damages you suffered.
You should file a formal complaint with the EEOC and seek the guidance of an experienced employment law attorney in your area.
Report the Incident
If you are a social worker who has been sexually harassed while working, you should immediately check to see if your employer has an anti-harassment policy in place.
If there is a policy, be sure to read it and follow the appropriate steps. The policy should provide you with various options for reporting the sexual harassment, including the option of filing a formal complaint.
If there is not such a policy, you should speak with a supervisor. You can speak with your own supervisor, speak with the supervisor of the individual who has harassed you, or any supervisor or manager within the company.
Be sure to explain what has happened in detail and ask the person for their assistance in getting the harassment and inappropriate behavior to end.
Gather Evidence
To have a successful sexual harassment claim as a social worker, you must provide supporting evidence and documentation that proves the harassment occurred and that shows the damages you suffered. Supporting evidence may include:
- Any communications from the harasser, which could include text messages, notes or memos, voicemails, emails, and so forth;
- Copies of your complaints and the responses from the company – or their lack of a response – to those complaints;
- Your employment file or personnel record;
- Your employee policy handbook and your employer’s written sexual harassment policy if there is one available;
- Testimony from any witnesses to the harassment;
- Any videos or photos of the incidents; and
- Bills and other proof of expenses related to the harassment that you have endured.
Just like any claim, you will need to prove without a doubt that the harassment occurred and that you were the victim of unwanted and unsolicited behavior.
There are state and federal laws that prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace, and if such behavior occurs, you have legal remedies available to help you recover compensation for the damages you suffered.
Filing A Claim For Sexual Harassment As A Social Worker
When you file a claim for sexual harassment in the workplace as a social worker, you must follow a detailed and specific complaint process.
If your employer has harassed you, or if they have failed to protect you from harassment, you must file a complaint or a charge against them with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
This complaint must be filed before you will be allowed to proceed with a private lawsuit against them. The EEOC will then investigate your case and may file a lawsuit against your employer on your behalf.
If the EEOC does not pursue your claim or if their investigation fails to provide you with any help, you will be given a Right to Sue letter.
After you have a Right to Sue letter, you can file a federal lawsuit against your employer and ask to be compensated for the damages that you suffered because of the sexual harassment as a social worker.
Of course, you will still need to provide evidence and documentation proving the harassment and the damages when your claim advances to court.
Get A Free Case Evaluation
If you have suffered sexual harassment as a social worker, you should enlist the help of an employment law attorney who is familiar with the state and federal employment laws that apply to your situation.
With the guidance of a lawyer and the proper documentation, you can successfully recoup compensation for your damages by pursuing a sexual harassment claim against your employer.
Your lawyer will investigate the incident, help you collect evidence and documentation, file the correct paperwork, and then help you receive a fair amount of compensation for your damages.
You do have a limited timeframe for pursuing a claim, so do not delay getting the help that you need for your sexual harassment as a social worker claim.
Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to share the details of your sexual harassment as a social worker with an attorney who handles sexual harassment claims in your area.
