In an office, especially as a woman, you feel a great deal of pressure to conform to the culture. That conformity push is even stronger when there’s toxicity, such as suggestive jokes or verbal abuse. But you don’t have to live in a workplace like that; the problem is, what will happen if you stand up?
If you’re the target of sexual harassment or if you feel like you’re experiencing a culture of harassment at work, you have the right to pursue a stop to it. Yet, taking a step can mean pushback.
Recognizing Sexual harassment
While we tend to think we understand what harassment is, sight unseen, the truth can be more subtle. At the same time, sexual harassment or discrimination can be so blatant as to be shocking to you. Here are a few examples to help you understand what to look for:
- Offensive language
- Lude jokes – whether you’re the target of them or not
- Missing out on promotions
- Having difficulty with reporting behavior
- Unwanted touching
- Quid pro quo suggestion
These are instances of both harassment and discrimination. What you face in your workplace may be more or less obvious. But, if you feel uncomfortable, you have every right to pursue a change. You may pursue an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filing at the federal level, but you would have to move relatively quickly, typically within 180 days.
You may face retaliation.
After filing a complaint, whether it is successful or not, you will be back at work. Hopefully, the issues will have stopped, and you will move on. But that’s not always the case. In many cases, you may face additional difficulties, either from management or co-workers. You may lose out on promotions. You may face “disciplinary action” for your conduct.
But that is retaliation, which is also federally prohibited.
You don’t deserve any of this
And you have every right to pursue a better life for yourself.