How to handle harassment in the workplace

To handle harassment in the workplace, determine the type of harassment you are facing and file a complaint with HR.

Harassment in the workplace is defined as unwelcome physical or verbal behavior imposed upon you by a co-worker or superior. In other words, any behavior you find abusive, hostile, intimidating or offensive. Generally, harassment in the workplace falls into one of two categories:

• Hostile Working Environment - This is when a superior or peer humiliates you in some form, verbally, physically, or otherwise.

• Quid Pro Quo - When any job benefit, like a promotion, raise, or similar, is offered to you in exchange for your engagement in some form of sexual behavior.

Here are the steps to filing a harassment claim with HR:

• Write down everything you can about the harassment

If possible, after the incident, write down as much information on the experience as possible. This is not your official complaint to HR, but you can use this as a reference when writing it. Try to stick to the facts and include everything you remember about the incident or incidents.

• Try to write the complaint when you are calm

If possible you should write your complaint when you are calm, and not when you are agitated. You should not do it directly after the incident involved in the complaint has taken place. The key here is to remain objective and to state the facts pertaining to the conflict and the individual(s) involved in it.

• Keep it brief, polite, and professional

It is important to not write too long of a complaint, unless there have been many occurrences of harassment, illegal activity, or the breaking of company policies. 500 words or less is a good aim for a complaint that deals with one incident. As stated above, this complaint should be strictly the facts given in a business like manner.

• Get witness statements if possible

If there were other employees who witnessed the harassment involved in your complaint, you should ask them if you can use their official statements. You can make a section of the letter dedicated to this.

• Specifics of what to include in a complaint to HR

Here is a checklist of everything that should be included in your complaint to HR:

• The names of all of those involved and their job titles

• Your relationship to the involved parties

• Witness statements and the witnesses job titles

• The specific incident or incidents

• The dates of the incidents

• The location or locations where the incidents took place

• Any evidence pertinent to the complaint, such as emails, texts, voicemails, etc.

• Save a copy of the complaint and submit it to HR

After you are finished with your complaint make sure you save a copy for your own records. This can be useful if the incidents or related incidents occur in the future.