What Steps Should I Take If I’m Being Sexually Abused at Work?

Dealing with abuse at your workplace can be stressful and it’s entirely illegal. Unfortunately, it’s a reality for far too many individuals. It’s important to act if you feel you’re in this exact situation. The best way to protect yourself and get the justice you deserve you need to report this abuse to a higher-up. It’s important to have a full understanding of your rights if you feel you’re being sexually abused at work to make sure you’re covered when bring this case to a legal professional. You have rights and you deserve to feel comfortable at work. 

Document Everything

Before you do anything, it’s important to document every incident that you face at work, even if it looks minor. If you feel uncomfortable by someone else’s actions, then you need to write that down. Make sure to include the exact dates and times that these accidents occur. Write down the individuals involved with their full names and what exactly they are saying to you. If physical contact is involved, make sure to document that. If the person talks to you outside of work, save these messages to help build your case.

Talk to Someone You Trust

You don’t have to keep these situations to yourself. If you feel overwhelmed, reach out to someone you trust to talk about what’s going on. Talk to a friend or family member about how this makes you feel. They will be able to offer you advice and take steps towards getting justice. With this emotional support, it can give you the strength you need to fight for yourself. If you have more people in your corner, they can watch out for anything suspicious between you and the individual, giving you witness.

Consult an Employment Attorney

Once you have gathered enough evidence, the next important step is reaching out to a trusted legal team. From there, you’ll work with an attorney who is ready to fight for you. They’ll be able to give you the advice you need to move forward with your harassment case and guide you through the process. Your lawyer can help you understand your rights and give you the confidence necessary to move forward. They’ll assist you in collecting the evidence you’ll need to have a strong case.

Report the Abuse to Your Employer

It may feel scary, but you need to report this incident to your employer or HR department immediately. Most companies have policies and rules in place that protect you when reporting harassment at work. Follow the protocol that your work provides to keep yourself covered. Make sure to save any documents that you receive from reporting your abuse. If your employer doesn’t take you seriously or chooses to do nothing about it, then you have an even stronger case.

Contact Law Enforcement

If the abuse starts to become aggravated, like stalking or assault, then you need to reach out to the police. They will be able to investigate the whole situation and write a trusted report about the abuse. From there, they can discuss your options for pressing charges for your abuse. If this all becomes overwhelming, then make sure you have your attorney present. They will be able to help you through this process and make sure you’re protected.

Seek Medical and Psychological Help

This type of abuse can affect you both physically and mentally. You don’t want to stuff these feelings and keep them to yourself. Make sure to seek medical attention to check on your injuries. Reach out to mental health professionals who can evaluate your behavior and get you the help you need. This is a time when counseling and therapy can help you throughout your case. That way you have someone to turn to when things start to feel out of control.

Preserve Evidence

Gathering evidence is important so is preserving it. You don’t want to throw away anything that can be linked back to your abuse. Physical evidence, like clothes or objects, that were involved in your abuse can greatly support your claim. If there’s digital evidence, such as the abuser emailing you inappropriate things, then you can use that in your lawsuit. You can review these items with your attorney to see what you’ll need for a strong claim.

Consider Legal Action

If things are starting to get out of hand at work, don’t forget that you’re not alone. You can reach out to an attorney who specializes in work sexual abuse to figure out what your next steps are. They can review the damages that you receive and help you file your civil lawsuit. You can also investigate creating a complaint with a government agency that can help with your claim. It’s in your best interest to work with an attorney so you can have peace of mind and start working on feeling confident again.

Dealing with sexual abuse at your place of employment can be a traumatic experience. It can make it hard to get your work tasks done and just feel safe in your environment. There are ways to stop this abuse and hold your abuser accountable. Reaching out to a trusted attorney can help you work towards creating a strong claim that gets you the justice you deserve. Trying to go through this situation on your own can be tough especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. You have the right to fight for yourself and your attorney will make sure you’re in good hands.