No one should be subjected to discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Yet, despite extensive efforts to raise awareness of sexual harassment and prevent it, egregious behaviors that constitute sexual harassment continue to occur in work environments across the country, including in New York and New Jersey.
Building your sexual harassment claim
If you’ve been subjected to sexual harassment, then you might be wondering what your next steps are, especially if you faced an adverse employment action because you reported the harassment. Legal action may certainly be warranted, but you’ll need to know how to build a persuasive case. Here are a few steps that you can take to better position yourself for success on one of these claims:
- Write down every instance of sexually harassing behavior, making sure that you note when and where the event occurred, as well as the context. Since our memories tend to get hazy over time, these notes will help ensure that you can paint a picture of the harassment to which you were subjected.
- Talk to witnesses who may have witnessed the harassing behavior, making sure to obtain their contact information. Again, it’s helpful if you take notes about what these witnesses say they observed or heard.
- Keep records of your communications with your employer. You need to show that you reported the harassing behavior and that your employer acted inappropriately or failed to act altogether. Communications with your supervisor, the business’s owner, and/or the human resources department might be able to help you here.
Fight to ensure that you receive the protection that you deserve
You have extensive rights in the workplace. Unfortunately, those rights are often trampled upon by employers. But you don’t have to sit back and let that happen to you. Instead, consider diligently working to build the legal claim that you may need to find accountability and recover the compensation to which you’re entitled.