Sexual harassment at work is a serious problem in the U.S., yet it’s alarmingly underreported. A significant percentage of employees who experience this form of harassment do not report it to their seniors or appropriate bodies.
Here is why this happens:
Fear of retaliation
Some employees who experience sexual harassment don’t report it because they are afraid they may be demoted, transferred to an undesirable location or task, denied a promotion or training opportunity or have their work hours reduced. This is especially common when the harasser is a senior.
Retaliation is unlawful. You can take action against your employer if they retaliate against you for reporting your case.
Economic challenges
Research shows that a weak economy can directly contribute to sexual harassment being underreported. Employees are less likely to report their cases when the rate of unemployment is high, particularly those in industries with high job insecurity. Victims may feel they have no choice but to keep quiet to protect their jobs.
As mentioned before, retaliation is unlawful. The law protects your job when you report sexual harassment.
Subtle signs
Another reason why workplace sexual harassment is underreported is that most of its signs are subtle. An employee may not immediately notice that they have experienced sexual harassment. And this can even worsen if others seem to accept the behavior in question.
If someone in the office makes you feel uncomfortable, you should be concerned. If they excessively stare at you, stand too close to you, make comments about your appearance, touch you, or block your way, you need to get more information to report the case soon.
Sexual harassment creates a hostile work environment. If you believe you have experienced it from a colleague or senior, legal guidance can help you file a complaint.
