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If you’re being harassed at work, you may be afraid to say something. After all, losing your job is the last thing you want to deal with — especially in this tight job market. However, staying silent and letting the harassment continue isn’t the answer either. The best course of action when dealing with harassment at work is to take action. That may seem scary, but it’s the only way to ensure that your situation gets resolved quickly. Read on for more information about what constitutes harassment in the workplace and how you can take action if it ever happens to you.
What is workplace harassment?
Harassment is defined as any repeated, unwanted attention or behavior that creates a hostile or offensive work environment. It can be verbal and/or physical, and it can come from a manager, a coworker, or someone else involved in your employment situation.
Here is a list of actions to take when you’re being harassed at work:
- Action #1: Talk to that person firmly about the harassment
If there is a single person who is doing the harassing, it’s often best to speak with that person directly. If you feel safe to do so, it’s often the fastest way to resolve the situation.
- Action #2: Document everything you can and put it in writing
If speaking to the harasser did not work (or if you feel unsafe doing so in person), email them what that person did and how it made you feel. It is critical to document everything and the easiest way to do this is leaving digital evidence. Save all of your email communications you had with that person. Ensure your email body contains the where, when, and how the harassment occurred. Hopefully, the harassment stops here but if not, jump take Action #3.
- Action #3: Contact Human Resources
If your issue is still unresolved, it might be time to get in touch with an HR representative or an employment lawyer. You can try to speak with the representative yourself, or you can speak with your manager and ask them to put you in touch with HR. Make sure to hand in the evidence of your professional attempts to stop the harassment.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, workplace harassment is far too common, and it can happen to anyone at any time. Whether it’s a manager who has it out for you, a coworker who won’t leave you alone, or another type of situation, it’s important to stand up for yourself and take action. Start by educating yourself on your company’s policies regarding harassment, and follow up by reporting any incidents you experience. Get support from friends and family members.
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