Sexual harassment can take many forms, but when it makes you feel so uncomfortable that it affects your ability to concentrate on your job, it becomes illegal.
Both state and federal agencies will investigate complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace if an employer fails to prevent it. If someone at work asks you out on a date this may be benign if you say no and that’s the end of it.
However, if it is a supervisor who asks you out on a date and keeps on doing so despite you refusing his / her advances, then this becomes sexual harassment and is unacceptable.
There are steps you can take to get this sort of behavior stopped. Some of these are outlined in the tips given below.
Tip 1: Ask Your Harasser to Stop
Once a supervisor has asked you out on a date more than once, despite your negative response, it is in your interests to let the person know that it makes you feel uncomfortable and you want it to stop.
No supervisor or manager is allowed to keep harassing an employee but you do need to make the sometimes challenging effort to let the person know that it is unwanted behavior.
It can be to your advantage to keep a copy of anything you have said to your supervisor in writing, such as an email, letter, note or text message. These copies of your responses may form part of a ‘paper trail’ that you can use as evidence as outlined in the next tip.
Tip 2: Keep a Paper Trail
Whatever the form of harassment you experience, you are wise to keep a written or digital record of each event and your response.
Make a note of what happened, when it happened, who was involved, how it made you feel and what response you made, if any, at the time.
Asking someone out on a date may be because of a genuine interest in you, but may also be malicious or potentially very unwelcome.
Whatever the reason for the request for a date, it is still unacceptable if it keeps happening at work. You will need this ‘paper trail’ of evidence if you file a formal complaint with your employer or even if you have to take it further and file a complaint with a government anti discrimination agency.
Tip 3: File a Formal Letter With HR
If the requests for a date continue despite your firm opposition or refusals, you should take the next step which is to file a formal complaint to your employer.
If your workplace has a HR department then your complaint should be filed with them. If there is no HR department try the next level of management above your supervisor or whoever is delegated with employee services at your place of employment.
In your complaint letter describe the type of harassment experienced and explain clearly why you regard it is as unacceptable.
Let your employer know that it has adversely affected your ability to do your job. Attach a copy of the paper trail that you have recorded to show that you have taken the whole experience seriously.
Tip 4: Speak to an Attorney
If your employer fails to deal with the harassment experienced and it continues, you have the right to file a complaint with a state or federal anti discrimination agency.
It is advisable to talk to an employment attorney with sexual harassment experience before you do this. If a lawsuit is necessary at a later stage, then your attorney can represent your interests in court.
