Pittsburg WorkPlace Sexual Harassment Documentation Attorney

How to Document Evidence of WorkPlace Sexual Harassment

Anyone who has experienced sexual harassment knows how it can affect multiple areas of their life. Sexual harassment in the workplace can affect a person's job performance, causing additional worries about their ability to support themselves and their family. Those who are in this situation may feel alone, and they may be unsure about where to turn for help. Fortunately, there are legal protections against sexual harassment, and a victim can take steps to protect their rights by gathering evidence to demonstrate the types of harassment that have occurred.

Victims of sexual harassment can sometimes struggle to be taken seriously, especially if the person who is harassing them is in a position of authority. At Colianni & Leonard LLC, we believe in protecting the rights of sexual harassment victims and helping them take action to address the ways they have been affected. By properly documenting all forms of harassment that have taken place, a victim can ensure that their harasser will be held responsible and that they will be able to move forward from this difficult experience.

How to Document Sexual Harassment

A person may have multiple options for gathering evidence of sexual harassment or documenting instances of inappropriate behavior. Explicit evidence of harassment may include emails sent to a person by a harasser, communications through social media, text messages, pictures sent to a victim's phone or computer, or written notes. By making sure to save these communications, a person will be able to demonstrate that harassment has occurred.

A victim will also want to maintain documentation of any reports made to personnel within their company, including the information they provided, the formal documentation of the incident(s), and the response taken to address the issue. It is also important to keep records of evaluations or other documentation of work performance. This information can counter any claims by a harasser that a person was denied a raise or promotion because of their job performance rather than as punishment for refusing to accept the harasser's sexual advances.

Unfortunately, "hard" evidence of sexual harassment may not exist. Victims may still be able to provide documentation of harassment by keeping a log of instances of harassment they have experienced. This log may record the dates and times that harassment occurred and note any witnesses who may have been present. A log may also detail the emotional effects that a victim has experienced as well as the ways their work was affected, and this information may be used to demonstrate the harmful effects that harassment has had on their personal and professional lives.

Contact Our Allegheny County Workplace Sexual Harassment Attorneys

If you have been the victim of harassment by a manager, supervisor, coworker, or anyone else involved in your workplace, our lawyers can advise you on how to address this issue. We will provide you with strong representation as you take legal action against an employer who has failed to protect your rights and interests, and we will work to make sure you will be able to properly deal with the ways sexual harassment has affected your life. To set up a complimentary consultation and discuss your case with an experienced attorney, contact us at 412-680-7877.