My Co-Workers Make Assumptions and Spread Rumors About my Sexual Orientation. Can They Do That?
In an ideal workplace, every employee has respect for their co-workers and no one is out to make trouble for anyone else. Some companies do an excellent job at monitoring employee interactions and removing those employees who show little to no respect for others. But there can be workplaces where respect is hard to find, and this can often be a breeding ground for sexual harassment.
Spreading Rumors In The Workplace
People who spread rumors about co-workers in the workplace are damaging company productivity and creating divides in the employee population that do not need to exist. In some circumstances, those rumors, whether they are true or not, can also be considered violations under the state or federal civil rights code. A good example of a form of sexual harassment that many people might not realize exists is sexual intimidation.
What Is Sexual Intimidation?
Sexual intimidation is a form of sexual harassment that occurs when a person is ridiculed or made to feel alienated because of their sexual orientation, gender, or sexual preference. When your co-workers spread rumors about their perception of your sexual orientation, then this is a form of sexual intimidation and it is sexual harassment.
What Should I Do?
Sometimes when co-workers spread rumors they do not expect to be confronted by the target of those rumors. If you politely approach the rumor monger and ask the rumors to stop, you might be pleasantly surprised at how effective that approach can be.
If asking for the rumors to stop in a civilized manner does not work, then you should alert your immediate supervisor and/or the Human Resources Department that you are the victim of sexual harassment. At that point, your supervisor is bound by law to help you make contact with the human resources department to fill out the proper forms. Once the forms are filed, your company is obliged to investigate the situation and, if deemed necessary, take action. If they do not, then you may have a claim and want to consult an attorney.
Respect In The Workplace
Sometimes, for certain types of people, it takes an official investigation to get respect in the workplace. If you are the victim of sexual intimidation and the attacker shows no signs of remorse or stopping, then you should not feel at all uneasy about using the legal avenues at your disposal to get the respect you deserve.
Our sexual harassment lawyers have many years of applicable experience in helping the victims of sexual intimidation to get the respect they deserve. We encourage you to allow us to look over your situation and be the source of the legal advice you need to solve your problem.