When Your Manager Is Sexually Harassing You

1 in 3 people have witnessed a superior being inappropriate

Often, employees who are experiencing sexual harassment are told to talk to their boss. But what if your boss is the one doing the harassing?

According to a recent Randstad study, power and authority often contribute strongly to workplace gender dynamics—and those interactions can turn toxic.

Some of the eye-opening statistics found in the study include:

• Over one in three employees (36%) have witnessed someone in a more powerful position take advantage of a person in a less powerful position at work.

• 29% of women and 20% of men have experienced unwanted advances from a supervisor. (The number rises to 35% for men and women aged 18-34).

• Almost one in four women (24%) believe they’ve suffered career setbacks because they refused advances from someone in authority.

• 57% of women and 39% of men would leave their jobs if they found out an executive in their company was providing privileges to employees in exchange for sexual favors.

Sound Familiar? Here’s What to Do

If your boss is behaving inappropriately toward you or anyone else at work, there are some things you can do to take control of the situation.

Document the Behavior

It’s crucial to document every inappropriate event when building a case for sexual harassment. Write down what occurred, what got said, the day and time, and any relevant details. Do it as soon as possible after an event occurs.

Keep your documentation in a safe place so no one at your workplace can find it.

Talk to Human Resources

If you file a claim for sexual harassment with your HR department, it’s on them to conduct an investigation. If you don’t have a dedicated HR officer, finds out who’s in charge of most employee issues at your company. That person is probably the one to take this issue to.

Go Over Your Boss’s Head

If your boss is the problem, you obviously can’t report sexual harassment to them—so you may consider reporting it to their supervisor.

Talk to a Lawyer

Being subject to an abusive boss puts you in a particularly vulnerable position—and it’s essential to talk to a lawyer with a strong understanding of sexual harassment law.

Your lawyer can help you determine what’s really going on and whether it qualifies as sexual harassment under the law; document and manage the situation as effectively as possible, and file a charge if necessary. 

Get in Touch for a Free Consultation

Call us at 267-273-1054 or email us at murphy@phillyemploymentlawyer.com for a free, confidential consultation.