I worked at this place for almost two years, I worked hard, and loved my job. It was far from perfect behind the scenes. Multiple girls including myself were being sexually harassed by the same male coworker. The incidents happened at work, and messages on social media by the same person. I reported my incidents and another girl reported the incidents. The reports went to HR. We met with the HR manager and talked more in depth about what we reported. Our managers were aware of what was going on, all they did was tell him to stop, and continuously let it happen. Since nothing was done I felt that I needed to step back from my time there. I went down to one day a week after I found another job. I got into an argument with a manager because I could not work that one day because I needed to focus on my studies that week. After that, I was never scheduled to work there again. I was perfectly okay with that.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct. 25 percent of women experience sexual harassment in the workplace. Forty-five percent of the EEOC's harassments claims was sex-based. So many people do not even report what has happened to them because they are afraid of what may happen. Sexual harassment claims cost companies millions. Hostile work environments can make the employees not work to their fullest ability, increase turnover rates, and damage the companies reputation. As I look back I now understand why nothing was done about it, even though it drove me away and my thought on the company I thought was once good has changed.
No one should have to worry about going to work wondering if the person is going to say something about your body that makes you uncomfortable, and you should definitely be able to trust the people above you to take care of a situation. I know telling the story of what happened is scary, it is uncomfortable to talk about, and may even feel like people are not taking the matter seriously. You may begin to dread going to work. You may start to hate the job you once loved. Report the incidents that make you feel uncomfortable when someone touches you and you do not like it. Reporting the issue should result in some sort of discipline to the person that is sexually harassing you. If nothing happens when you tell your managers or write a report, then go even higher because you should not have to give up the job you love because of someone else's actions.
Sexual harassment in the workplace should not be taken lightly. Yes, everyone perceives things differently, but let's be honest. We all know what is right and wrong to do in a workplace, or anywhere.
