Life is not easy all the time. No matter if you are contented with your job and love what you do. Even if it is the best job you can get, problems like workplace harassment may get to your feet anytime and anywhere.

Yes! Sadly, even when our culture and society has advanced so much in all facets, cases of sexual harassment in the workplace are still troubling us. No matter if you love your work or not, you mainly work for a salary. And if situations at work are so traumatic that you find it hard to work for your take-home pay, you may well consider your working environment, right?

Workplace harassment might sound like something that is out of the office drama sequence. But the reality is that sexual harassment in the workplace is a common obstruction in the way of a professional’s progress. And as a final point, harassment in the workplace is an unethical practice in the place of work.

Do you know that our legislature entails companies to create a working environment free from workplace sexual harassment? However, hardly any firm follows these workplace harassment laws. Hardly any organization proposes the processes for dealing with any conveyed events of sexual harassment in workplace.

In this article, we are going to observe each of these workplace harassment problems, from constant pressure to sexual harassment in the workplace. Here, we will endeavor to discover ways of dealing with the sexual harassment cases in the workplace and placing your attention back on the work at hand. But before that, let us get to the real nitty-gritty and fine points about the sexual harassment in the workplace.

All you need to know about workplace harassment!

We are all aware that workplace harassment, in any phase of life, is intolerable. Yet, we have all heard about happening of such sexual harassment cases in the workplace. So, what is sexual harassment in the workplace all about? To understand what workplace harassment is, let us look at its definition first.

Workplace harassment definition

What is workplace harassment? Let us first understand this.

“Workplace harassment is an undesirable behaviour from a work-fellow that may make a victim feel insecure, vulnerable, mistreated, threatening, offensive, awkward, embarrassing, belligerent or anxious. By the same token, sexual harassment in the workplace can be an out-of-the-way event or an endless occurrence of sexual advances or objectionable and aggressive conduct towards a fellow worker”.

A workmate often uses workplace harassment as an instrument to single someone out and make him or her feel undesirable or uncomfortable in the office. The victim might feel that he or she is failing at work and that his or her ideas and thoughts are of little worth. A person who faces sexual harassment at workplace may feel anxious and restless. Such events might affect their self-confidence levels, and they may isolate themselves. A person might take quite a lot of time off work, might not be capable of keeping to the time limits and may be unable to sustain good associations with their contemporaries.

An outdated approach to harassment in the workplace is that:

“Workplace harassment does not take place in “our” corporation. And people who blame colleagues of workplace sexual harassment are exaggerating or misapprehending certain types of manners”.

This outlook plays down the issue, upholding that accusations of sexual harassment in workplace shoot from romances that have gone dry. You might receive allegations that you are taking offense at good hearted greetings and generous compliments. You might have to face the claims that you are an excessively delicate member of staff who is not strong enough to deal with a standard working environment.

However, in my opinion, you must never let go of anything that is indecorous or undignified for you. Now and then, you might prefer not speaking anything for fear of destroying your career, being humiliated or experiencing other problems that may distress your life. But you need to understand that your failure to raise voice can lead to additional difficulties for you.

Types of workplace harassment

If you look at the sexual harassment in the workplace statistics, then you’ll find that there are five types of workplace harassment.

• Gender Harassment

General sexist remarks and behaviour that convey insulting or humiliating outlooks about a person define the gender harassment in the workplace. Instances include rude comments, aggressive graffiti, and indecent absurdity or humour about sex.

• Seductive Behaviour

Undesirable, inappropriate and belligerent sexual advances characterize the seductive harassment at workplace. Examples take account of frequent annoying sexual requests, persistent invitations for dinner dates or drinks, insistent letters, annoying phone calls and other sexual advances.

• Sexual Bribery

Solicitation of sexual deeds or other sex-related conduct by the promise of recompense represents the sexual bribery. The proposal for a sexual bribery may be either barefaced or understated.

• Sexual Coercion

Sexual coercion is the pressure for a sexual move or other sex-linked activities together with the warning of punishment. Cases consist of damaging performance assessments, withholding promotions, and notice of termination.

• Sexual Imposition

Sexual Imposition includes forceful touching, bothering sexually, grabbing and other sexual attacks.

Of all these five types of workplace harassment, gender harassment is indeed the most common harassment. The seductive behavior harassment in the workplace follows it.

Effects of sexual harassment in the workplace

Sexual harassment at workplace can destroy your emotional well-being, physical health, and professional growth. People who face workplace harassment often leave their professions, career objectives, and projects. Over and above, harassment victims’ time and again report mental and physical reactions that are parallel to anxiety reactions. Key effects of sexual harassment in the workplace comprise:

Psychological Reactions

• Depression, nervousness, shock, anxiety
• Annoyance, panic, frustration, bad temper
• Lack of confidence, awkwardness, feelings of betrayal
• Confusion, helplessness
• Embarrassment, self-consciousness, low self-confidence
• Guiltiness, self-blame, loneliness

Physiological Reactions

• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Dermatological problems
• Weight rise and fall
• Sleep Disorders, nightmares
• Obsessions, fear
• Sexual problems

Career-Related Effects

• Reduced job satisfaction
• Disapproving performance appraisals
• Loss of job or promotions
• Drop in work performance due to constant worry
• Absenteeism
• Withdrawal from work
• Adjustment of career objectives

Now, I’m not going to talk any further about the causes, roots or reasons of sexual harassment in the workplace. In fact, I’d rather be discussing workplace harassment training and how to handle or deal with it. It is important that you discern what you can do each time you face any workplace harassment. But before that, I’d like to tell you one thing. There is no one-way to deal with workplace harassment. Every single situation is poles apart, and it’s only you who can assess the problem and choose the best way to deal with the sexual harassment in the workplace. Now let us get to the possible solutions.

1. Don’t blame yourself

In substance, human resource authorities, women’s groups and I can provide you vital guidance, information, and support, but only you can find out the right path for yourself. The single point you can be completely sure of is that closing your eyes to the state of affairs will not let you make a run for it. Most of all, DON’T EVER BLAME YOURSELF FOR THE WORKPLACE HARASSMENT! Remember that you are not at the mistake. Put the culpability where it has its place–on the side of the harasser. Self-guilt can cause you downheartedness, hopelessness, dejection and will not help you or the circumstances.

2. Speak up; don’t keep it to yourself.

By being silent about the sexual harassment in workplace, you can never end it. Probabilities are good that you aren’t the only target of your coercer. Raising your voice and speaking it up can be useful in finding a backing and in protecting other sufferers from being preys of that hypocrite.

3. Say NO to the harasser!

Be up front! You can write a letter to the harasser. Refer to the entire episode of the workplace sexual harassment and describe how it made you feel uncomfortable and awkward. Mention that you would like the sexual harassment in the workplace to stop. Direct the letter to a certified mailing service and keep a copy of it with you. You need to challenge the person who hassled you.

You need to say out loud that what they did was wide of the mark and that you are not going to let it go. Every so often, the denial of the sufferers to confront the offender leads to even more aggravation. So, be confident, shout out loud and tell them to stop right away. Say it at the top of your voice. Don’t mind even if others listen to what you yell.

4. Recount your rights

Declaiming your civil liberties and constitutional rights won’t influence harassers, in any case. However, it may perhaps make them smile. Raising your voice and standing up for your rights will affect them. It will ascertain that you are a strong person, somebody not to be toyed with. It possibly will provoke some regard that they didn’t have for you when they tried annoying you. So, think about it!

5. Play the game well

Summon up that many harassers don’t have the supremacy and control they would lead you to consider they have. But if they’re going to maltreat you, then it’s in their best interest to ensure you believe that they have the authority. It’s a game! So, just play the game well! What you can do at the moment is just be strong. Be prepared to struggle hard for your self-respect! If you want to score the success, you’ve got to persuade them that you don’t care about what they entitled to have. You are not interested in finding the middle ground. Tell them that you are not for sale, so there’s no point bribing you or panicking you. If you could make him or her believe that they’ll look for a new prey who gets scared without difficulty.

6. Try to solve it informally

If you are experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, then try and solve the issue casually in the first place by communicating with your associates and manager. Nevertheless, if this does not resolve the issue then make an official complaint and follow your company’s complaint process. Don’t feel troubled to seek out help. Dredge up that individuals committing the harassment are in the wrong, not you.

7. Look out for workplace harassment policies and procedures in your organization

Find out who is accountable for dealing with workplace harassment in your company and whether you can talk assertively with that individual. Almost every corporation has certain workplace harassment laws, policies, and procedures. You can access guidance counselors who manage that sexual harassment in the workplace cases. It is the responsibility of your enterprise to offer you with information, help, and support. If you are a union member, you can converse to your union representative or a social worker. Unions are dedicated to removing sexual harassment at workplace.

8. Maintain a record of what happened when

Keep a record of whatever took place and at what time. Try to remember the dates, times, locations, names of people involved in addition to the eyewitnesses. Recall all the facts along with who said what to whom. Do not hold back any pieces of evidence or proofs if you are making a complaint about workplace sexual harassment. Offer as many facts as possible, or far ahead, you will be blamed of not revealing an important aspect of the sexual harassment in the workplace case that was committed.

9. Talk to the superiors

If your harasser is a person over you, then tell their superiors. Speak up about your problem to someone in a position of authority at the organization. These supervisors can help you in routing the next steps and reporting them. If sexual harassment at the workplace and its stress are upsetting your job performance, then it turns out to be a professional issue. Trust me; your boss would be sensible enough to help you through this problem.

10. File a police report

If you feel insecure or unsafe, and physically or verbally under danger, then you must go to the police or contact the law enforcement agency straight away. You can file the FIR or request a provisional restraining order. If you have been touched, then that is not just harassment but a sexual assault as well. That is a grave situation. If you have been attacked sexually, you must report the sexual harassment in the workplace case to the police right away.

11. Rely on workplace harassment lawyers

If you discover that you are turning into an entity of fulfilling unwanted sexual desires at work, then that is sexual harassment. You might feel cautious about telling it to somebody or feel scared that it might affect your job standing. But believe me, you must not! No matter if your harasser is in a position of power or not, no one has the right to make you feel awkward at work.

If you are experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace then getting guidance from these workplace harassment lawyers is the best solution. A workplace harassment lawyer will not just lead you through the grievance procedure; discuss workplace harassment laws and your choices. In fact, it will represent you in any consultations that might occur as a result of the grumble.

12. Get back to your work, once the matter gets resolved

Once the issue gets resolved, the chances are that you still need to carry on working with your harasser. In such a case, you can tell them that you will just talk over work matters with them. Request the HR to put some effective security and comfort procedures in place for you.

13. Change your negative beliefs

As a final point, learn to ascertain feelings that spin in your mind and transform your “mind maps.” Strike a note that these traumatic circumstances are momentary. You can change all your damaging considerations and energy into positive thoughts and useful energy with no trouble. All you need to do is relax your body by deep inhalation and exhalation, workout, and soothing music.

Raise your voice against workplace harassment — Stand up for yourself!

“Men will be men”!

“You have no sense of humor”!

“Nothing intentional”!

“There was no damage intended”!

You’ll find these comments and people making such remarks at every phase of your life. However, just because people who hold this view lay off the reports of workplace harassment doesn’t mean that you are in the wrong. Just because few individuals claim sexual harassment in the workplace as an overreaction, or as a misinterpretation is not to say that it is an imaginary thing.

When it’s about workplace harassment, you need to be very serious. Take into account that silence will not resolve your problem and would perhaps cause more troubles for you at the end of the day. So, act right away and raise your voice against workplace sexual harassment. It, in fact, will help you break the walls of fear and stop further exploitation from ensuing.

Every time you see or turn out to be a target of workplace harassment, DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES TO IT! I repeat DON’T PRETEND THAT IT DIDN’T TAKE PLACE.

Featured Image Source: Photo by Xavier Sotomayor on Unsplash