You have the right to work in an environment that is free from certain types of treatment, such as discrimination or harassment. If you experience this in your workplace, you may feel uncertain of what to do next or how you can make it stop. You have the right to speak out about what you are going through, and you can bring to light any type of harassment you are experiencing in your place of work.
The prevention of harassment is critical in every North Carolina workplace. Employers play a critical role in ensuring their employees do not experience this type of treatment, starting with prioritizing the safety and well-being of all who work there. If you are the victim of workplace harassment, your employer may be either directly or indirectly responsible for your suffering.
Stopping harassment before it happens
Harassment is unacceptable in any form. Victims who experience this at work often feel that they cannot speak out about what they are experiencing out of fear of retaliation or other repercussions. To prevent harassment, employers must be intentional and proactive. Some steps they can take to stop it before it happens include:
- Set expectations for employee behavior at all levels of the company, including management and supervisors.
- Provide training for employees so they can recognize harassment and know what to do if they experience it.
- Develop a workplace culture that is opposed to harassment, unfair treatment, unkind behaviors and other types of negativity.
- When harassment is reported, take it seriously, and work with the victim to reach a solution that is satisfactory and appropriate for the situation.
- Be authentic and honest when speaking about harassment incidents that do occur and take immediate steps to hold responsible parties accountable.
With the right training and the development of a healthy workplace culture, it will be much less likely that harassment will occur in any type of business.
The rights of victims
If you are the victim of workplace harassment, you have rights. You are entitled to speak out about what you went through, filing a report with the appropriate parties and seeking appropriate compensation through a civil claim. If you believe you may have a case, you may benefit from an assessment of your case and explanation of the specific legal options that may be available to you as a victim of workplace harassment.