How do you deal with sexual harassment in the workplace?
A Reader Asks This Question:
I’m pretty sure my boss is sexually harassing me. He talks to me in a very unprofessional manner all the time, as in saying stuff about my chest and asking me about my sex life and talking about his. I don’t respond to his questions, of course..it makes me very uncomfortable that he talks like that in front of me. I usually just walk away and i’m pretty sure I get red in the face because I don’t know how to respond to it. Lately, he’s been degrading me in other ways, too. I was supposed to get a promotion and he turned it down and i’m pretty sure it’s because I don’t play his little games. What I want to know is how to deal with this sort of situation. I’m tired of going to work and feeling so uncomfortable. What can you do to take care of a problem like this and still have your job?
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4 Responses to How do you deal with sexual harassment in the workplace?
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What you’re boss is doing is illegal. Start documenting everything immediately. Also, take some time to document past events. Download my free report at the top of the right-hand sidebar “10 Things That Managers Do To Get Sued…And Lose In Court”. It will tell you how to do it.
Contact your HR department right now. If they do not do something IMMEDIATELY you can sue them. Trust me. If they do not fix the problem, contact an attorney ASAP. You will win.
Your boss talking about your body, talking about your sex life, his sex life or anyone elses sex life is clearly sexual harassment. Go to his boss and if that does not get you anywhere go to HR. Your boss is a jerk and also foolish because he should have the sense to realize he’s jeapoardizing his own job with his behavior.
First, tell him to please stop his behavior. Then run, don’t walk, to your HR department and report this creep. If you don’t have an HR department, contact your local Department of Fair Employment and Housing. There should be a poster in your workplace, near the other legal postings (usually near a timeclock or employee entrance) that has the DFEH contact info.
What he is doing is illegal. It is called "hostile environment" harassment. If he retaliates against you for complaining about him, that is illegal, too. If he denied you a promotion because you didn’t play along, that is called "quid pro quo" ("this for that") harassment and is much more serious than the hostile environment type.
If he is doing this to you, chances are he is doing it to others. The only way to stop people like this is for people like you come forward and file a formal complaint. Please do this as soon as possible.
Take care, ok?