There are various forms of workplace harassment but not many know how to identify the same when it happens with you. Workplace harassment isn’t an issue for big or small business organizations. It occurs throughout the business industry all over the United States of America. From direct discrimination to bullying at workplaces, it is vital to spot workplace harassment so that you can stay away from hostile environments at your office.
Though the most common kinds of harassment are psychological and verbal, there are other serious forms like sexual and physical harassment. Regardless of the type of harassment, all types are illegal. Sexual harassment lawyers are of the opinion that any kind of workplace harassment has an impact on comfort, productivity, and safety at work.
Workplace harassment – How to prove
The latest stories have undermined something that most of us have been aware of for a very long time – harassment is present in all workplaces. One of the main reasons behind its pervasiveness is that it is tough to prove. For more than one reason, gathering evidence is highly necessary. When you have proof, you can make it tougher for the workplace harassers to deny what they did in order to avert the harsh results.
Having the most important and valuable proof will let you pursue a case against a harasser and the employer. This is why you need to understand what harassment is all about. How are you going to prove it? Keep reading to know more.
Workplace harassment – What does it entail?
Before you move on to gathering proof, you should first know what workplace harassment entails. If the behavior has to meet the standards of harassment, it should:
- Include discrimination against a definite section of people: If you’re a protected class, harassment should infringe your rights in some way. The behavior should be against your sex, race, age, religion, disability, or any other characteristic.
- Include distasteful behavior: When the offensive behavior has to count for harassment, it should be distasteful in some way. Opting for a sexual relationship with a colleague who is willing is not illegitimate. When the colleague is unwilling, this can be termed as illegitimate.
- Include abusive behavior: There are various forms of abusive conduct like racist jokes, ethnic slang, mimicking a person on his disability, or demanding sexual favors.
- Include some level of ubiquity that impacts your productivity: Most often, a sudden romantic pursuit or a joke might not be considered harassment. But if the behavior is considered severe or pervasive or that which affects the productivity of an individual, this can be termed as harassment.
Proving workplace harassment
If you have to prove workplace discrimination, the victim has to pursue the case with immense dedication and care. You can assemble proof of harassment in the following methods:
- Set a timeline of gathering proof
- Gather proof
- Find out the witnesses
Begin by keeping a record of every instance of harassment soon after it occurred. Jot them down at a place and be as clear as possible. Don’t miss out on the time and date or as much detail as is possible.
This information can be further corroborated by sharing it with others who are reliable. Have a talk with other work associates who can be trusted upon. Get in touch with the HR department or other state employment agencies like the EEOC or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Also, try to keep a track of allies at your office who have also noticed the discrimination and harassment done to you.
So, if you’ve long been suffering from workplace discrimination, be proactive and take the required steps to fight for your rights.
