Each North Carolina employee has the right to work in an environment that is free from harassment and other types of mistreatment. If one does experience any type of sexual harassment, that individual has the right to report that to his or her employer. Each employer has the duty to take sexual harassment claims seriously, and a victim has the right to expect that his or her employer will do so, working to resolve the issue promptly.
The next steps
It can take a significant amount of courage to speak up about sexual harassment. When an employee files a claim, an employer would be wise to take the situation seriously. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an employer has a responsibility to resolve the matter promptly. He or she must also protect you from further mistreatment.
The first thing an employer should do is to thoroughly investigate the claims that you have made. There should also be steps taken that will stop the continuation of further mistreatment. Additionally, an employer cannot treat you differently, punish you or retaliate against you for reporting harassment.
Protect your rights and interests
If you are the victim of sexual harassment, you are not alone. You have the right to fight back, seeking justice and taking steps to hold the responsible party accountable. You may benefit from speaking with an experienced North Carolina employment law attorney to learn about the options you have as a victim of this type of inexcusable behavior.