Workplace harassment of any kind can be demoralizing and confusing for a victim regardless of the industry in which one works or the policies put in place by one’s company. While someone may feel certain he or she is the victim of workplace harassment, the steps that must be taken to prove it or to help ensure a case is taken seriously may not be so clear. Anyone in Colorado who is prepared to file a workplace harassment claim should consider the following tips to help ensure the most favorable outcome.
The first thing that must be done is to keep a record of any incidents. Simply saying that harassment occurred on a number of occasions is not considered strong evidence. Having documentation in place provides evidence of the nature of the harassment and the exact times and dates. This documentation may be in the form of notes, emails or voice messages.
One vital action to keep in mind is to report and file a claim in a timely manner. Waiting too long is one sure-fire way to make finding witnesses and evidence more difficult. Emails may be deleted after a certain time period and co-workers who witnessed harassment can be long gone from a company and difficult to contact.
Action and documentation can go a long way toward building a case to take to human resources and to a legal representative if it becomes necessary. Workplace harassment is taken seriously in today’s work environment in Colorado and a suit against a harasser or an employer who ignored pleas for help can yield a variety of results, depending on the nature and severity of the harassment. Some employees may find monetary damages and changes in workplace policies to be fair resolutions, while also finding solace in having helped to prevent other employees from falling victim to workplace harassment.
Source: mainstreet.com, “5 Things Not to Do When Facing Workplace Harassment or Discrimination“, Kathryn Tuggle, April 1, 2015