For employees who have experienced workplace harassment, taking legal action is an option with our employment litigation lawyer people recommend. Although, in recent years, many people have come forward to share their stories of harassment, and action has been taken, harassment in the workplace is still widespread. In a report released by the EEOC, it was found that most sexual harassment in the workplace was largely unreported. Additionally, 90% of workplace employees experienced harassment but never took action against it. While some harassment can be blatant, there can be other subtleties involved. Having the ability to identify this type of injustice is the start of being able to act on it. There are critical steps that should be taken when taking action, and our team from Eric Siegel Law can not only offer several advantages but can help protect victims’ rights throughout the process.
Signs of Workplace Harassment
In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, which makes discrimination and harassment in the workplace illegal. The Act outlines that harassment based on age, gender, race, religion, origin, and disability experienced by employees or prospective employees is considered unlawful. Harassment, discrimination, and subsequent retaliation for taking action can greatly impact all who are involved. Harassment can occur directly and indirectly and leave victims experiencing significant adverse effects. Sometimes, people may brush off this behavior even though it makes them uncomfortable or impacts their ability to do their job. Our Washington, D.C. employment litigation lawyer shares that having the ability to identify harassment can at times be difficult; the following are signs of harassment in the workplace:
- Sexual Harassment
- Making sexual comments
- Sending sexual texts or videos
- Inappropriate sexual gestures
- Unwanted physical touch
- Quid Pro Quo
- Discriminatory Harassment
- Racial slurs or insults
- Racial jokes
- Inappropriate comments
- Harassment
- Offensive jokes or comments
- Purposely leaving a person out
- Humiliation
- Belittling
- Making demands that cannot be met
- Physical Harassment
- Making threats
- Physically hurting someone
- Retaliation
Harassment can take many forms, and a victim’s harasser can be a co-worker, employer, supervisor, or third party. While employees should take steps to prevent harassment from happening, it’s unfortunately still present in the workplace today.
Steps to Take
Workplace harassment can leave victims feeling embarrassed and ashamed, and because of this, many never come forward to report it. However, reporting harassment is a way to stop harassment and prevent it from happening in the future. If you have experienced harassment, the following steps are necessary:
- Ask the harasser to stop their behavior
- Report the harassment to a manager, employer, or human resources
- Keep evidence of harassment and write down a personal account
- Consider speaking with a lawyer
Sometimes, corrective action can be taken that is satisfactory. However, some victims may experience continued harassment and retaliation for reporting the incident. As a result, victims can experience further mistreatment, missed opportunities, and even job loss. It’s possible to take action with the help of a lawyer who can assist with filing a complaint with the EEOC and taking legal action to receive compensation for the damages victims have suffered.
Harassment in the workplace impacts not only the victim but organizations as a whole. Working with a lawyer can help victims by helping them to understand the steps involved and determine whether they should take further legal action. To learn more, contact Eric Siegel Law to discuss your case.