Employees, especially women and diverse workers, may feel they are more likely to experience uncomfortable situations, unsolicited sexual comments and inappropriate behaviors from co-workers, supervisors and executives in certain industries or workplaces.
It may not be as easy to dismiss these daily behaviors as they or others might think. Over time, employees may experience more aggressive forms of harassment that threaten their job position.
No matter the field of work, employees have legal rights that protect themselves from workplace harassment. Employees can protect their job positions by learning more about their legal rights and protections. Here is what you should know:
Protect your job by understanding your legal rights
Employees may face harassment in any job, including construction jobs, office jobs, law enforcement and transportation, for example. Employees may be harassed because of their gender, race, age, marital status or religious belief.
Employees have the right to report workplace harassment if they are a victim of inappropriate touching, sexual comments, discriminatory actions or microaggressions. An employer or Human Resources (HR) should investigate the harassment claim, enforce policies and prevent any further attempts of harassment.
It can be difficult for employees to report workplace harassment especially when a worker fears their actions will jeopardize their job. Employees are legally protected from retaliation. This means that an employee cannot legally be fired or demoted because they reported a co-worker, supervisor or executive.
Reporting workplace harassment does more than protect a single employee. Exposing a harasser can protect the entire workplace from inappropriate behaviors. Legal guidance can help victims of workplace harassment enforce their rights.
