Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious issue in the United States. Many employees are victims of sexual harassment every year. Victims of sexual harassment can file a lawsuit against their employer. Unfortunately, a new report shows that many cases go unreported.
Many victims do not report the harassment or take legal action against their employers because they are afraid of the repercussions, which can include retaliation and termination. The report shows that many women are worried about how filing a lawsuit would affect their professional opportunities and their ability to find another job with similar job duties and benefits.
The finding that many victims of sexual harassment in the workplace are not filing lawsuits or even reporting the abuse is disheartening but not surprising. It can be very difficult to discuss the specific details involved in a sexual harassment case, especially when your employer is the abuser.
Victims should know that they have rights, and the law prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace. Employers are supposed to take action to prevent and stop sexual harassment so even if your employer is not the abuser, you may still have a case against them if they did not do anything to prevent or stop the harassment.
Employers should be proactive in preventing harassment in the workplace. This typically includes a cultural change to make sure employees are aware of the consequences of harassing other employees as well as creating an open environment for victims to report the abuse.
Sexual harassment is not an easy issue to discuss. However, you do have rights in the workplace and you should not be subjected to harassment. If you have been the victim of sexual harassment, contact an attorney to discuss your rights and what legal action you can take.