Documenting Sexual Advances
If you have been the victim of unwanted sexual advances in the workplace, then you should consider filing a report. Unwanted sexual advances are a form of sexual harassment that was made unlawful by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you are getting persistent unwanted sexual advances, then you should document those advances and file a complaint with your human resources department.
Online And Offline Messages
Generally, aggressors who engage in unwanted sexual advances do not see any harm in their actions, so they often use very public methods of communication. Instead of ignoring emails, texts, handwritten messages, and posts on public websites that are unwanted sexual advances, you should be collecting and organizing them. There is no evidence more damning against someone who engages in sexual harassment than their own words.
Collect Witness Accounts
It may or may not surprise you to learn that your aggressor could have more than one victim. As part of your information collecting activities, you should talk to others in your office and see if anyone would be willing to submit an eyewitness account. Your witness accounts need to be signed by the witness, and it helps to have someone who watched the witness make their statement to sign the document as well.
Recall Your Own Interactions
Whenever you receive an unwanted sexual advance, you should take the time to retain as many details as possible in writing. Your details should include when and where the incident happened, what was said, and how persistent your aggressor was during the exchange. When you take the time to include as much detail as possible, it becomes difficult for your aggressor to deny that the incident took place.
If you have questions about documenting unwanted sexual advances or if you have questions about what to do when you are the victim of this form of sexual harassment, then we encourage you to contact our experienced and caring sexual harassment lawyers as soon as possible.