Humans are the most advanced species on the earth, yet humans are capable of animal behavior. Sometimes, I feel like humans are the best species in the world, and sometimes the contrary. Sexual harassment is something that is unacceptable. It is the most vicious crime in the world.
When thinking about sexual harassment, don’t just think about women. Men can also be a victim of sexual harassment. It has many forms. Many get molested at a young age. Many get molested in a church. Yes, even clergies are known for sexual harassment. And some get harassed in the workplace.
Wherever the harassment took place, the offender must pay for the crimes they did. But sadly, in many cases, the victims are blamed for the crime. That is a whole different story. Sometimes, people can be accused of something they didn’t do too. Wrongly accused of sexual harassment is not something you can get out of easily. Everyone will take the victim’s side without even knowing the facts. You need to protect yourself from these kinds of cases. Click here to know more about how to protect yourself in these situations. This blog post’s intention is to let people know how to protect themselves against sexual harassment in the workplace.
Workplace harassment is casual nowadays. Not only now, but it has also been casual for a long time. No one is taking proper action to put an end to this. Anyone can harass a person in the workplace. But mostly, superiors will be the offenders. They will abuse their power to harass someone.
Even where I used to work, our boss used to make very sexual comments to female employees. I was always disgusted by it, but the women employees didn’t utter a word because they were afraid and didn’t know what to do. At that time, I was unable to help them too. I feel bad for that now. Anyway, I hope at least this blog post helps someone out there.
Everyone knows they shouldn’t touch someone without their consent or make lewd comments about a person’s body. But in the real world, these things happen all the time. It can be hard to know how to react when you’re uncomfortable at work or when someone makes you feel unsafe in the office. Working alone with a superior can be challenging for any employee, especially if that superior is of the opposite sex. Since most sexual harassment lawsuits are related to this type of situation, we’ve outlined some helpful tips on how to deal with unwanted advances from your boss.
1. Be Aware of Company Policies and Safe Practices
Sexual harassment is both a moral and legal problem. While it’s impossible to guarantee that nothing will ever happen, it is possible to decrease the likelihood of sexual harassment occurring by working according to company policies. Make sure you’re familiar with your company’s sexual harassment policy and that you know what to do if you or someone else reports it. We’re not just talking about CEOs or managers here; employees have the right to work in a safe, non-threatening environment.
2. Document Everything
If a superior harass you in any way, whether it be sexually or otherwise, you need to take steps to document it. Start by keeping a record of what happens. A journal is perfect for this, but if you don’t have time to write down everything that happens, keep a digital document. Write down what happened, when, the names of all the people involved, and any witnesses. Save any emails, voicemails, notes, or other digital communication that could be useful in defending a lawsuit.
3. Be Blunt and Be Proud
If the person harassing you is your superior, they’re probably not going to back off quickly. That’s why it’s essential to be blunt and proud when telling them to stop. If you’re uncomfortable talking to someone directly, ask someone else to step in and act as a mediator. You may have to do this several times before the person gets the message.
4. Use Your Network
If you feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing has worked, it’s time to start thinking about switching jobs. Before you do, talk to people in your network to get a sense of what other places are like. Ask them about their experiences in the workplace and if they’ve seen sexual harassment. People in your network can support you, help you find new jobs, and help you if you end up in court.
5. Take Care of Yourself Physically and Emotionally
It can be tempting to pour all your energy into your job, but that’s not healthy. Make sure to take care of yourself physically by getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and exercising. It would be best if you also took care of your emotional health. If you’re feeling anxious or depressed or start feeling like you’re losing control, reach out to someone you trust, like a friend or family member.
6. Safety Measures
More than protecting your rights after sexual harassment, you need to be able to prevent it from happening. Of course, prevention is better than cure. Have pepper spray with you always. If you are alone with some and they are trying to misbehave, use it. Do not be afraid of using it. Involve the authorities. The police should know about the perpetrator. Only then can they stop the person from harassing someone else.
Educate your co-workers about sexual harassment and what they need to do to put an end to it. If everyone unites in a workplace, no one will even think about harassing someone.
Have regular meetings to talk about harassment in the workplace. Encourage others to come forward if they have been a victim of harassment. Every workplace must have a dedicated department for dealing with workplace harassment. An employee who harasses a co-worker should be fired immediately.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand what sexual harassment is, how to recognize it when it happens, and how to protect yourself from it. Don’t be afraid to speak up: you don’t deserve to be treated that way by anyone. Workplace harassment is a common and huge problem, but together we can defeat it. Let’s work towards creating a better workplace for everyone. You also need to know how to protect yourself if ever wrongly accused of sexual harassment.
