Employers in NY are required to ensure safety at the workplace, and they have to act and create a policy to prevent sexual harassment at work. Unfortunately, sexual harassment at work isn’t uncommon, and it can happen to men and women. Before anything else, it is important to understand the meaning of sexual harassment, which may refer to any kind of sexual advances, physical & verbal harassment, or just even passing lewd comments. If you have faced such an incident at work, one of the first steps is to contact a sexual harassment lawyer in Queens. Here are some other things to know.
Steps to follow right after
- First things first, note down about what happened. If the person, which could be anyone at work, tries to pass such comments on the phone or in person, try and record details. Check if there were any witnesses to the incident, who can testify on your side.
- Every company has an employee handbook, which typically outlines the steps that must be followed to report sexual harassment incident.
- No matter who the harasser is, consider keeping records that you tried to warn the person or tell them that their conduct was not acceptable.
- Next, contact your supervisor and give a written complaint. You can also file a written complaint with the human resources department.
- Gather all evidence of your work-related accolades, recent promotions, and other things you have done, so that if you face any retaliation, you have enough evidence.
Do you need a sexual harassment lawyer?
If your employer failed to act on your compliant, or you believe that they have retaliated against you, you may consider consulting a sexual harassment lawyer, who will guide you through the process. Remember that the federal and NY state laws have clear support for the victim, and you need a lawyer, who can be your support, because this fight may not be an easy one. Look for a skilled and known lawyer that you can trust, and don’t shy away from asking questions related to their work profile and sexual harassment cases.
Final word
There is no denying that sexual harassment at work is unacceptable and should stop. People often do not file a complaint, because they don’t want to be the troublemaker in the first place. Make sure that you file your complaint, no matter if the incident doesn’t seem a big one. Sexual harassment should be addressed aptly through law.
