By On behalf of The Law Offices of Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A.
Scores of Florida workers are victimized by sexual harassment every year. Such workplace harassment can have a variety of sources, including vendors, customers, supervisors and coworkers. In many cases, victims are unaware that they have rights in the workplace, and laws exist to protect them from ongoing harassment. Not only are there many legal options available to victims of harassment, but these individuals can also take back their workplace power by confronting the harassment head-on.
Those who create a hostile work environment need to be stopped from perpetrating their aggression. Victims who are considering speaking up about their own harassment experience would be wise to consult an attorney from the start, according to many experts. Lawyers may advise their clients about the best way to confront their harassers or report their experiences to the human resources department. Standing up to your aggressor can be a satisfying and legally appropriate maneuver.
Attorneys say that it can be helpful to actually script out what you want to say to your harasser. In many instances, it helps to inform the person that you are suffering from the harassment, and that you demand that the inappropriate behavior stop immediately. Make it clear that you intend to pursue legal options if the harasser does not stop the abuse, and commit to that course of action.
Many victims do not know that they need to maintain records in the event that a legal claim becomes necessary. Experts say that these workers can begin to confront their situation by building a body of evidence, including hard-copy versions of text messages, e-mails and descriptions of personal interactions. These can be used to build a legal case against a harasser who will not quit. By collecting appropriate information, notifying your abuser and building an evidence-based case against your harasser, you can improve the chances of favorably resolving your sexual harassment claim.
Source: The Business Journals, “How to confront sexual harassment in the workplace” Ron Shapiro, Apr. 16, 2014
