Workplace harassment. It’s pretty common. So common, in fact, that almost two in five workers have been exposed to misconduct more than once.
This doesn’t make it any easier, though.
Realizing that you’re being harassed at work is… unsettling, to say the least. You may not know whether you should report it. You might want to confront the person responsible. You might even consider talking to a lawyer. You’ll likely question yourself and wonder if you’re making too much of the situation.
Hint – you probably aren’t.
After all, you’re not alone. Workplace harassment isn’t always obvious, though. At times, it’s difficult to know what to do – more so when you’re in the middle of it.
If you’re considering your options for defending against harassment in NJ, there are a few things you should do before contacting an attorney. Taking the steps below helps you understand your situation and make it easier to explain what happened.
Keep reading to learn more.
Document Every Incident
Start writing things down.
It might feel unnecessary at first – particularly if you think the behavior will stop. But keeping a record becomes extremely important if the situation continues.
Write down the key details:
- What happened,
- When it happened,
- And who was involved.
Include anything that stands out. Offensive comments. Inappropriate messages. Threats. Repeated behavior. If someone else saw or heard any of these, make a note of that, too, as well as their names.
Don’t rely on memory alone. Even if you remember everything clearly today, details will become harder to recall as times passes.
Save relevant emails, text messages, and other communications. Just be careful not to take confidential company data that you aren’t entitled to keep.
Review Company Policies
Take a look at your employee handbook or other workplace policies.
Your employer may have a specific policy explaining what it considers harassment. This should also mention how employees should report such behavior. It might tell you whether who to speak with. Common options are your supervisor, HR, or someone else.
Knowing the procedure before making a complaint helps. You’ll feel more prepared. It also gives you a better idea of what to expect going forward.
That doesn’t mean company policy is the final word on your legal rights. Your employer’s rules and the law aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Report Internally
In lots of situations, reporting the behavior to your employer is a vital step.
If you decide to make a complaint, be as clear and specific as you can be. Explain what happened. Don’t just say someone it treating your badly. And avoid using overly emotional language – that’s a fast way to lose credibility.
Keep a copy of your complaint if possible. You should make a note of when you made this complaint and to who.
Then pay attention to what happens next. Does your employer take the complaint seriously? Does the behavior stop? Or does nothing change?
And if your supervisor is the person harassing you, don’t assume you have zero options. Your company’s policy should provide another individual or department to whom you can report the conduct.
Understand Deadlines
Finally, don’t put off learning about your legal deadlines.
Depending on what happened, different laws and agencies – like the EEOC – may apply to your situation. Some claims also have specific deadlines for filing a complaint. Waiting too long could limit your options.
Remember this – you aren’t alone here. There’s no need to figure everything out on your own. Professionals are there to help. An experienced employment attorney especially. They would listen to what happened, answer your questions, and explain what steps may make sense.
To conclude, harassment has no place in the work environment. There are laws prohibiting it, but sometimes it does appear. When this happens, you need to know what to do – and this post will help you with that.
