How Do I File A Complaint Against Harassment?

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If you feel you have been the victim of harassment, take heart, you are definitely not alone. Although knowing this will most likely not give you peace of mind, it is important to know that more and more companies are taking these accusations seriously and many have implemented codes of conduct and procedures to assist you in getting this type of behavior stopped. Things are definitely changing, although not as quickly as one might hope.

In What Type Of Jobs Is Harassment More Prevalent?

Harassment is not tied to a specific type of job. However, there are some positions that lend themselves more to this form of behavior. Here are some examples:

• If you work for tips - If you have a role in the hospitality industry or in food services you might have been harassed by managers, other workers, customers, and vendors.

• If you work alone - If your work implies that most of the time there is nobody around you, such as if you clean hotel rooms or are a home health aide, your harasser may feel confident that you will not tell.

• If your immigration status makes you feel vulnerable - If you are sexually harassed and you have only a temporary visa or are undocumented, you may feel that reporting the harassment will bring you out in the open and you may be unwilling to take that risk.

• If you work in an office with few women - In a male-dominated situation, men may feel more empowered to act without fearing consequences.

What Steps Can You Take When Faced With Harassment?

Don't wait until you are so uncomfortable that you are thinking about quitting. The first thing you can do when you receive an inappropriate comment or behavior is to ask the person doing it to please stop. That may do the trick if the offending person truly did not realize how offensive their comments or actions are.

If the situation continues, you need to take other steps to address it. Keep a log of everything that has been happening, including place, time and any witnesses. Safeguard your job, keep a file with all of your performance reports and any other document that may prove you are an employee worth keeping.

If nothing has worked, you should report the harassment either to your boss or, if they are the perpetrators, directly to human resources. You might be surprised to find out that other people have lodged the same complaint. By making an internal complaint, you are making sure that your employer is aware of this problem and the company is now put on notice of the problem, making it liable for fixing it.

If Necessary, Go One Step Further

If you feel that your employer has not taken the necessary actions to stop the harassment or that your case was not dealt satisfactorily, you should file an administrative charge with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) so that they can investigate the incident impartially.

The EEOC will eventually finish processing your claim and hand down a right to sue letter. Once you receive the letter, you may file a lawsuit. To establish all aspects of the suit and build the best case, get in touch with a sexual harassment lawyer in Los Angeles, like Spivak Law, that will help you put this unpleasant experience behind you.