Witness Workplace Harassment
Workplace harassment is unacceptable and can be a breach of civil rights laws. As a workplace witness, you can take important steps to help fight against this behavior. In particular, you can clearly document incidents, report them to the appropriate parties and provide supportive and emotional assistance to victims of harassment. In addition, you can educate yourself about your company’s anti-harassment policy and legal rights and consider seeking outside counsel if internal measures do not yield positive results.
workplace harassment lawyer includes any unwanted, unwelcome and repeated words or conduct that cause a hostile environment and create a negative impact on an individual or group of employees. This could include verbal harassment that makes offensive statements or jokes that are derogatory, embarrassing or humiliating and discrimination that is based on an individual’s race, age, gender identity/expression, religion, sexual orientation, sex, disability, or other protected class. It can also involve physical contact (e.g. unwanted touching), as well as requests for sexual favors, and other forms of offensive language that make the victim feel uncomfortable.
As a witness, your first action should be to speak up if it feels safe to do so. You can firmly state that the harassing behavior is inappropriate and must stop, while remaining calm. You should also record all of the events you witnessed, including dates, times and locations. You can then report the incident to your supervisor or HR department.
What Steps Can I Take If I Witness Workplace Harassment?
Make sure to follow your company’s established procedures for reporting harassment, and provide all documentation and evidence that you have documented the incident. Be aware that some witnesses may be reluctant to report an incident of harassment, due to fear that they will lose their job or will be treated poorly by their employer. You can offer to support them by letting them know that you would be willing to corroborate their experience should they choose to report the harassment.
The goal is to prevent further incidents of workplace harassment help by addressing the issue quickly and efficiently. In some cases, this can include imposing discipline or corrective actions, such as reassignment or demotion, or requiring the harasser to attend training or counseling sessions. In other cases, a complaint or an investigation alone can be enough to get the offending behavior to stop.
It is also important for the witness to be an ally to the victim and believe their experiences. The victim of harassment may be struggling to deal with the situation and feel isolated and unable to confide in others. Your support and belief can be critical in helping the victim feel supported, which can lead to a resolution that can deter future incidents of harassment.
If you are not comfortable directly confronting the harasser, or if their behavior persists despite your best efforts, it may be necessary to file a formal complaint with your company’s HR department. This can help send a clear message that the behavior is not acceptable, which may deter the offending person from engaging in harassing behaviors in the future. If you are unsure of what to do, or need additional support, seek out support from friends and family members, or an outside counselor. You can also consult an employment attorney for advice and guidance on the best course of action to take based on your unique circumstances.