When treated unfairly by an employer, you may not know what to do next. If you experienced harassment or discrimination, you may be unsure of what steps you can take to hold the responsible parties accountable and seek justice for yourself. Whether you experienced sexual harassment, discrimination or another type of mistreatment in the workplace, you can benefit from knowing what steps you can take.
You may be able to file a legal claim against the responsible parties. However, these claims can be difficult to prove, and it is not always easy to validate your side of the story. This is why it is important to have documentation and evidence. Keeping close track of the specific things that happened to you as they are happening may be important for the success of your case.
What to do if you are facing discrimination or harassment
There are different types of workplace discrimination or harassment, and it is not always easy to determine whether you are covered by the employment laws. Documentation is critical in that it provides a way to prove that these events happened and that the perpetrator should be held to account. Harassment can be verbal or physical, and victims may feel like this treatment is a condition for their continued employment. If you suspect that it is happening to you, it can be helpful to start documenting your experiences.
Documentation includes photos, videos, screenshots, emails, text messages, and anything else that would be important for your claim. If you have an encounter with someone who is harassing you, try to note the date, time and location of the event, as well as anyone who witnessed it. It is also helpful to follow your company procedure by notifying the human resources staff or other managers. Employers must take these situations seriously.
It is equally important that you should not delete or destroy any evidence. You should also turn off any auto-delete settings in your email accounts and your text messages.
Fighting for your interests
You do not have to navigate your harassment or discrimination case alone. It is helpful to discuss your options with an experienced legal professional as you consider how you can seek justice, hold responsible parties accountable and ensure that no one else endures the conduct that you experienced. If you are unsure of your options or would like to know more about the types of documentation you will need, it may help to seek an assessment of your workplace situation.
