Defining and Reporting Workplace Sexual Harassment
Determining whether sexual harassment has occurred in the workplace depends on several factors. Generally speaking, any kind of sexually suggestive comments or actions are considered harassment if they are unwanted and uninvited. If you are uncertain about whether your situation is harassment, a sexual harassment lawyer can review your case and help you determine if you are a victim.
Defining Sexual Harassment
Any of the following can be considered sexual harassment in most cases:
- Intentional Touching or Groping
- Offers of advancements for sexual favors
- Sexual remarks or jokes
- Requests for sexual favors
- Sexually suggestive remarks
- Comments about gender or sexual preference
- Gestures of sexual acts or anatomy
- Showing pornographic or sexually suggestive media
- Incidental contact or hovering in close proximity
- Sexually suggestive comments or innuendos
- Unwanted questions about personal or sexual activity
- Spreading rumors about sexual activity
- Suggestive noises such as whistling, catcalls, or kissing sounds
- Sexual comments about someone’s body or their clothing
- Sexual requests by text, email, phone or other communications
- Referring to someone using a sexually suggestive nickname or description
Reporting an Offense
If you feel you have been sexually harassed in the workplace, the first step is to report it to your HR department, work supervisor or company management. If the offender is your supervisor or is in the role that you would normally consult, you may need to go a level higher in the company structure to get help. Your workplace should have explicit guidelines for how to report sexual harassment, and what actions they will take to remove the harassment from your work.
Getting Professional Help
If you feel that your situation is not being properly handled by your workplace, or that you are being told the incident is not a case of harassment, you may need to consult a sexual harassment lawyer. A sexual harassment lawyer can review your circumstances in detail, and help you determine if the incident does, in fact, constitute sexual harassment. The lawyer can then provide options for you regarding addressing and resolving the issue.
Our sexual harassment lawyers are professional, compassionate and persistent. We will take your claims to the highest level to ensure that your situation is resolved. Don’t allow sexual harassment to interfere with your career. Take action today. Contact one of our locations, and get started on being free from harassment.