How can I report workplace harrassment & hostile work environment without getting fired?
Question:
I cannot go to the head supervisor, she will also make my job more miserable if I do. I cannot go to the board we are ran by because the boss will make sure I get fired or quit. When I report it I also must stay anonymous due to worse treatment at work.
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3 Responses to How can I report workplace harrassment & hostile work environment without getting fired?
Document EVERYTHING. Make sure you have proof to back up what you’re going to accuse someone of. Keep a journal.
Retaliation for making a report is illegal. I suggest that whom ever you decide to report it to that you also include in your report a statement similar to this. “I trust this matter will be handled swiftly, in a professional manner and without retaliation as not to implicate the EEOC.”
That lets them know you are aware of the fact that retaliation is illegal and that you are willing to take it up with the EEOC.
Your company should have a hotline for reporting such abuse. However, you are not going to be guarnteed anonymity. If they do, they are lying. How can they investigate an allegation without knowing who to talk with? Also, your supervisor will find out as with their bosses. It is against the law for them to retaliate against you for making such an allegation, but you can rest assured your life will become even more difficult. Because of this, I STRONGLY recommend you can prove your allegations are true, because if they prove them to be false, they can fire you for make false statements.
If there is another division or department you could be transferred to, you could ask that that happen. If the situation is bad enough, maybe finding another employer to work for would be an option you could pursue.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
You have to report it first to immediate supervisor–I’d suggest an email or some way you can actually document that you made the complaint. If your supervisor does nothing, go above her head–and in the same way—where you can document it. If they don’t do anything file a claim with the EEOC–they are a federal agency who will investigate it for you–but you HAVE to make that claim within 180 days of the act that constitutes the harassment–so don’t let your employer drag their feet. Also–you HAVE to complain or else the employer is not on notice there is a problem to even be corrected. The alw required you to put them on notice.
Also–if by chance they do anything to the harasser–unless he’s had complaints before, they won’t fire him so don’t get your hopes up for that. They may make him take a sensitivty course or something and then the NEXT time he offends, he should get canned. Your company should have a harassment policy.
If you get fired, not only do you have a harassment claim, you also have a retaliation claim (which can include punative damages against your employer–woch means more money for you is you have to sue and win). Even they just start treating your worse–it’s retailiation–and you may have to quit if it becomes intolerable (that’s called constructive discharge) and if it gets bad, you may want to seek counseling to have more documentation of what they are doing to you.
But–make sure you show up for work, do your job and do it well. Start saving every positive email you get about your work-performance. Since they can fire your for any reason–you may end up having to show their reason for firing you was pretext for your harassment complaint. It’s a very complicated area of law and it’s hard to explain it on a board–you need to call an employment attorney.
Good luck to you!