How to Document Workplace Sexual Harassment

How to Document Workplace Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment at work can be as distressing and frustrating as it may be illegal. When you are the target of sexual harassment, knowing what to do – and how to document each incident – can be crucial to protecting your rights. It can also help you collect potential evidence for a future case.

So, to support these efforts and workers’ rights, below are some essential tips to keep in mind when it’s time to document when workplace sexual harassment:

  1. Write down what happened as soon as possible – The sooner you can record the details of what happened, the better, as memories can fade over time, opening up room for ambiguity. Also, part of this tip involves writing down every and any incident of possible harassment, even those that may be more “minor,” as keeping very detailed records can help establish a pattern of harassment.
  2. Record the basic facts first – For a given incident, be sure to note the date, day and time it occurred, as well as where it took place and who was involved. Along with noting the details of what transpired, it’s also important to note whether there may have been any witnesses to the incident. If so, it can be helpful to have these witnesses also write up their own accounts of what happened (to back up your version of the events).
  3. Don’t forget to record details about what happened afterwards – In other words, after the harassment incident occurred, did you report the incident to human resources (or some other appropriate authority) at work? If so, what happened after your report? If not, did you take any action to report the incident? Recording details about the aftermath can also be crucial to proving later that an employer may have failed to take sufficient (or any) action to prevent future harassment (or to punish the harasser for violating a worker’s rights to a harassment-free workplace).
  4. Retain other supporting evidence – Not all forms of sexual harassment are verbal. And, if an incident of harassment involves some nonverbal interaction – like an email, the display of offensive materials, etc., then retaining a copy of such evidence (e.g., copies of emails, pictures, etc.) will also be important.
  5. Consider backing up your files/records – To prevent loss or damage to your records that may be crucial to a future case, it can be smart to create back-up files or copies. Better yet, after each record or report you create, make a copy to retain for your log, and mail the original to yourself (as a way to document that the record was made on a specific day/date; this can be an easy way to time stamp each record).

Ready to Take More Action? Contact a Sherman Oaks Sexual Harassment Lawyer at Koron & Podolsky, LLP

If you have been the target of any type of harassment or discrimination at work, contact a Sherman Oaks sexual harassment lawyer at Koron & Podolsky, LLP to find out more about your options for justice. Known for providing our clients with aggressive legal advocacy, our lawyers are exceptional litigators who are dedicated to protecting our clients’ rights and advancing their interests through all phases of litigation.

Call us today at 818-380-3077, or email us using the contact form on this page for more information about your potential case and how to proceed. From Sherman Oaks, our lawyers provide superior representation to people throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, and the state of California.