Steps Women Can Take if they are Experiencing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Written by Eric Minghella, published September 14, 2021
Even though sexual harassment is illegal it still happens to women around the country every single day. According to one study, 81% of women have experienced sexual harassment or discrimination at work. Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act outlaws discrimination based on sex and gender and as well color, race, orientation, religion, and place of origin. If you’re experiencing sexual harassment at work your employer is breaking the law and you can hold them accountable.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or EEOC is a federal organization that investigates workplace discrimination and harassment. If you’re experiencing sexual harassment, you have the right to file a complaint against your employer. The EEOC will investigate and will share your complaint with the state labor board if you live in one of the 44 states that the EEOC has a work share agreement with. Then the state will also investigate your employer.
What You Can Do if You Have Been Sexually Harassed
Sexual harassment and discrimination can make women feel powerless. It’s designed to do that. But you can take control of the situation by filing a claim against your employer and holding your employer accountable. You have a right not to be harassed daily at work. The most common types of harassment women face at work include:
Not being promoted because of your gender, or being told you must perform sexual favors in order to be promoted.
Sexually charged comments in the workplace.
Demeaning or dehumanizing comments about your, or women in general.
Bullying comments about you, or women in general.
Not being paid the same as men doing the same job you are doing with equal qualifications.
Being exposed to sexually provocative or explicit images, words, or graphics in the workplace.
If you have experienced sexual harassment at work you should get a written copy of your company’s rule on sexual harassment. Every employee should get one, they’re usually in the company handbook or in the papers you had to sign when you started work. Write down all of the harassment you are experiencing that violates the company’s policies. Take that list to your supervisor and HR. They should immediately take steps to stop the harassment that is happening. If they don’t you should immediately file a complaint with the EEOC.
The timing of the complaint is important. If you don’t file your complaint within 180 days or 300 days depending on the company that you work for you could lose your right to file a complaint. So don’t wait.
Filing A Claim For Sexual Harassment
Having evidence of the harassment will help your claim, but there isn’t always hard evidence of sexual harassment. Get whatever evidence you can including screen shots, recordings, copies of emails or chats, or witness statements and submit those to the EEOC with your complaint. You can file your claim directly through the EEOC’s website.
Penalties For Sexual Harassment
It’s a serious crime to violate the Civil Rights Act. Your employer could be facing fines of $10,000 per violation and criminal penalties along with civil ones. You could receive a promotion or a raise if you were denied either because of harassment and you pay receive a lump sum of back pay too.
Resources Found Via:
https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/sexual-harassment/evidence-harassment-claim
https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/sexual-harassment/damages
Thank you, Eric for sharing these resources. If you are interested in writing a blog, please email 911derWomen@gmail.com. Sign up for our newsletter on our homepage to stay up to date with 911der Women programming, exclusive content and blog updates. Click here and scroll to the bottom!