EEOC Files Seven More Suits Against Harassment

EEOC cracks down on workplace harassment!  EEOC files 7 more lawsuits against harassment.

Full article: https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/8-9-18h.cfm

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed seven lawsuits recently against various employers, charging them with harassment, and also announced a major resolution of a harassment lawsuit. This is the second time in two months that the EEOC has coordinated multi-state actions on harassment. This second tranche of cases demonstrates the agency’s commitment to using its enforcement powers, as necessary, to address harassment – on all bases – where it occurs.

These latest lawsuits included harassment based on race, disability, national origin, and sex.  What do I do if I have been harassed at my place of work?  Report it!  Studies show that more than 80 percent of individuals who experience harassment never file a formal complaint. Nearly three out of four individuals who experience harassment never even raise the issue internally.

Guidance from the EEOC:

What You Should Know: What to Do if You Believe You Have Been Harassed at Work

1)  If you feel comfortable doing so, tell the person who is harassing you to stop.

2)  If you do not feel comfortable confronting the harasser directly, or if the behavior does not stop, follow the steps below:

A.  Check to see if your employer has an anti-harassment policy. This may be on the employer’s website. If it’s not, check your employee handbook. Finally, you can ask any supervisor (it does not have to be your supervisor) or someone in Human Resources (if your employer has an HR department) whether there is an anti-harassment policy and, if so, to give you a copy.

B.  If there is a policy, follow the steps in the policy. The policy should give you various options for reporting the harassment, including the option of filing a complaint.

C.  If there is no policy, talk with a supervisor. You can talk with your own supervisor, the supervisor of the person who is harassing you, or any supervisor in the organization. Explain what has happened and ask for that person’s help in getting the behavior to stop.

D.  The law protects you from retaliation (punishment) for complaining about harassment. You have a right to report harassment, participate in a harassment investigation or lawsuit, or oppose harassment, without being retaliated against for doing so.

E.  You always have an option of filing a charge of discrimination with the EEOC to complain about the harassment. There are specific time limits for filing a charge (180 or 300 days, depending on where you work), so contact EEOC promptly. See EEOC’s How to File a Charge of Employment Discrimination. You can also meet with EEOC to discuss your situation and your options. This conversation is confidential.

Please Note: Federal employees and job applicants have a different complaint process and different time limits.