Were you subjected to unwelcome sexual advances at work? Are you facing frequent lewd comments and jokes from your coworkers? Dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace can be scary. While respect is paramount, the matter is sensitive as it concerns your job. Unfortunately, such cases are often reported in Seattle, and most victims don’t understand how to protect their rights and seek justice. In such circumstances, you need an experienced and capable Seattle sexual harassment lawyer.
Steps to take
As someone who is dealing with sexual harassment, you must take immediate steps for your situation –
- First, inform the harasser that their behavior is unwelcome and unacceptable. This could be an arduous task as it requires confrontation, but you also give the harasser a chance to change their ways. No matter how hard it is, ask them to stop.
- Note down all details. You have to be detailed about your sexual harassment. Keep a diary mentioning dates, times, events, and witnesses. If you have the scope, keep evidence with you, such as comments on social media or unwanted messages.
- If your company has a system for registering complaints and grievances, file a report. Your employee handbook will mention all relevant details for the process. The HR is expected to take action, but remember that the complaint may not be private or confidential.
- Keep a record of your performance. If you haven’t taken work seriously, have bad performance reviews, or have been labeled for sloppy behavior, these things can hurt your claim. If you have recent positive performance reports, get everything ready.
Meeting an attorney
Not all lawyers handle matters concerning sexual harassment, and you need someone specializing in employment law. The eventual goal is to ensure that you have expertise on your side. Be honest and transparent with your attorney; they may ask a few hard questions, which you must answer. If the lawyer believes the case has merit, they may request you to wait for a response from your employer. In some cases, where the employer or HR hasn’t taken the required steps following a sexual harassment complaint, lawyers can initiate legal action.
Depending on the situation, you may have to go for a lawsuit, which is tricky and challenging. However, with a confident legal team, you have less to worry about. If your employer retaliates against you for filing a sexual harassment complaint, your lawyer can advise on that, too.
