Sexual harassment is nothing new and it has been there since women are working with men. One should not get confused with the term and should labialize sexual harassment with women only. Anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment, however, in our society normally these are women who suffer because of this issue. This is an overly sensitive issue and there must be a debate about this thing and awareness must be spread in order to ensure that every person gets to know the rights in case any such thing happens.
There are many questions which pop up in the mind of a lay person regarding sexual harassment and in this article, we have tried to cover most of the questions in order to increase awareness among employees to let them know about their rights regarding this matter. Sexual harassment does not only mean sexual conduct and mischief, it will also include any sexual jokes cracked in office premises especially by opposite gender. Similarly, it will include the bad comment which are made to women while they are working.
Common questions related to sexual harassment:
Basic questions which are asked in connection to sexual harassment are enlisted and briefly explained below:
- What are the things which are considered to be sexual harassment?
- How many incidents of sexual harassment should be there to file the case?
- Should you file the case and sue the related person immediately?
- How can you file a sexual harassment case?
- Is there any need to hire an employment lawyer for this specific case?
Explanations:
Sexual harassment is an overly broad term and it includes many things both verbal and physical. Verbal sexual harassment is a bit different thing as compared to physical abuse, however both things are considered offences in the eyes of law and are punishable. Sexual harassment might include inappropriate touches, massages, caresses, and any other improper touch without the consent of other person. Similarly, passing harsh sexual comments and jokes would fall under the same category.
There is no limit to the number of sexual harassment cases to make your case strong, however you should always gather proper evidence so when you present the case in court with the help of sexual harassment lawyer, chances ofyour winning are more than of losing. It is preferable to discuss the situation with human resource department of your office first. If there is no HR department or they are not listening to you, only then you should hire the services of legal representatives. In some cases, it is advisable to hire the lawyer meanwhile you have reported the issue to human resource department. This happens when you have been through extreme torture and it has become really difficult for you to bear anymore. You can easily file the harassment case with the help of lawyer. Usually, you can find cheap lawyers in your area who will charge reasonable fees to defend and win your case in the court.