What should employees do who believe that they have been harassed?

If an employee believes she/he has experienced unlawful harassment by another member of the university community, several options are available to resolve the problem. There are a number of steps that she/he can take in order to personally address the harassment; and support is readily available to help employees who need or want assistance in regard to appropriately dealing with harassment and making certain that her/his rights are protected.

 

  • Collect and preserve evidence: Keep copies of all documents relevant to your complaint, and make notes of all incidents relevant to the situation – be specific and detailed (who, what, when). It is a good idea to keep this information in a bound notebook.
  • Discuss the matter with the perpetrator: In many cases, the people you work with are not intending to hurt your feelings or make you angry; they may just be unaware. They may be trying to make a joke or convert you to their point of view. Often, if you privately explain what they have said or done that offended you, and how it made you feel, they will stop. You need to be discreet and speak to them alone.
  • Discuss the matter with your supervisor or Office of EDC personnel: If you have a concern or complaint or plan to file a harassment complaint against a co-worker, the first formal conversation should be with your supervisor, if at all possible. If you are considering filing a harassment complaint involving your supervisor, your conversation should be with the Office of EDC personnel.
  • File a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): You may file a complaint with the EEOC for alleged harassment and/or discrimination based on membership in a class covered by Title VII at any time during the processing of your complaint with the University or after you have exhausted your internal appeals eeoc.gov

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