No one should have to experience sexual harassment,especially in the workplace. Unfortunately, many workers in the restaurant and healthcare industries face this problem daily. This can be especially concerning if the harasser is a customer or patient who has power over the worker due to their position.
If you find yourself in this situation, it's essential to know what steps you can take to protect yourself and your colleagues.
Speak Up
You should never have to experience sexual harassment in the workplace. When someone makes you feel uncomfortable, you should report the harasser to your supervisor. Reporting sexual harassment to does not always mean verbally reporting. You can also report the sexual harassment by text message or email. Upon receiving your report of sexual harassment, your supervisor/employer has a duty to act fast and alleviate the hostile work environment. By speaking up and reporting sexual harassment, you are not only making the work environment better for you, but you are also making the work environment safer for your co-workers.
It's also important to document any incidents of sexual harassment that occur. Be sure to write down as much detail as possible about what happened—date, time, location, name of customer/patient (if possible), etc.—and keep it for future reference if needed. This will help ensure there is evidence should you need to take further action against the harasser or your employer for failing to appropriately address the sexual harassment.
Report The Behavior
If someone sexually harasses you or others at work—whether a customer or another employee—you should always report it immediately so that appropriate action can be taken against them. Depending on where you work, this could mean filing an incident report with your supervisor or contacting human resources so they can address the issue appropriately with those involved.
READ MORE:Request a copy of our e-book, It's Not Your Fault: How to Fight Back Against Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
We Help Restore Dignity and Bring Hope to Our Clients
No one should ever have to experiencesexual harassment in any form while at work—let alone from customers or patients! That being said, if such an event does occur, it’s crucial for workers in service industries to know how best to handle such situations professionally and safely for everyone involved.
If you are a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, call our firm at (304) 841-0037 today torequest a free consultation with amember of our team. We are here to support you!