At Stark Law Group, we believe everyone deserves to work in an environment free from harassment. A respectful and inclusive workplace benefits everyone, fostering productivity, creativity, and a positive atmosphere. While employers have a legal and ethical responsibility to prevent and address harassment, employees also play a vital role in creating and maintaining a harassment-free environment. This blog post offers practical tips for employees on how to contribute to a workplace culture of respect.
1. Understand What Constitutes Harassment:
The first step in preventing harassment is understanding what it is. Harassment can take many forms, including:
- Verbal Harassment: This includes offensive jokes, slurs, name-calling, insults, and unwanted sexual advances or comments.
- Visual Harassment: This can involve displaying offensive images, posters, or cartoons, including sexually suggestive or racially insensitive material.
- Physical Harassment: This includes unwanted touching, groping, pinching, kissing, hugging, or any other form of physical contact. It can also include assault or battery.
- Cyberbullying: Harassment through email, social media, text messages, or other online platforms.
- Retaliation: Adverse employment action (such as termination, demotion, changes to job responsibilities and/or refusal to promote or hire) taken against an employee for reporting harassment or participating in an investigation.
It’s important to remember that harassment is not just about intent; it’s about impact. Even if someone doesn’t intend to cause harm, their words or actions can still constitute harassment if they create a hostile work environment.
2. Set Boundaries and Speak Up:
If you experience or witness harassment, it’s important to address it. This can be uncomfortable, but it’s crucial for creating a respectful workplace.
- Directly Address the Behavior (If You Feel Safe Doing So): A simple, “That’s not appropriate” or “I’m not comfortable with that” can sometimes be enough to stop the behavior.
- Document Everything: Keep a detailed record of every instance of harassment, including dates, times, specific words or actions, and witnesses. This documentation can be invaluable if you decide to file a formal complaint.
- Report the Harassment: Follow your company’s reporting procedures. This usually involves speaking to your supervisor, HR department, or a designated complaint officer. If your company doesn’t have clear procedures, seek guidance from a trusted mentor or legal professional.
3. Be an Ally:
Don’t be a bystander. If you see someone else being harassed, offer your support.
- Intervene if it’s safe to do so: You can interrupt the harassment by saying something like, “This isn’t okay.”
- Offer support to the victim: Let them know you’re there for them and encourage them to report the harassment.
- Be a witness: If the victim decides to report the harassment, your account of what you saw can be helpful.
4. Promote a Respectful Workplace Culture:
Creating a harassment-free workplace is everyone’s responsibility.
- Lead by example: Treat everyone with respect, regardless of their position or background.
- Speak up against inappropriate behavior: Don’t tolerate jokes or comments that could be considered offensive or harassing.
- Educate yourself: Stay informed about your company’s policies on harassment and your rights as an employee.
- Promote inclusivity: Foster a workplace where everyone feels welcome and valued.
Know Your Rights:
Familiarize yourself with federal and state laws that protect employees from harassment. These laws provide legal recourse for victims of harassment. If you believe your rights have been violated, consult with an employment attorney.
Stark Law Group is committed to protecting the rights of employees. If you have experienced harassment in the workplace, we can help. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.