Why do some employees in Mississippi avoid reporting sexual harassment in the workplace?

As unsettling as it may sound, there is a large percentage of individuals who fail to report when an incident of sexual harassment occurs within their place of employment. But why? Why do both women and men fail to bring forward their issue so that it can be properly addressed?

Anyone who has been or thinks they have been sexually harassed at work who fails to report the incident(s) has their reasoning for doing so. Some of the more common reasons why sexual harassment victims often choose not to report an incident include:

1. They are afraid of retaliation.

This is a common reason when the harasser is a supervisor, manager, or owner of the company. Many individuals worry that because someone with status is the harasser, they might retaliate against them by demoting them or even firing them if they come forward with their complaint.

2. They don’t know the behavior is unacceptable.

Sexual harassment involves “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.” Because some harassers make subtle moves such as brush up against a co-worker or “accidentally” bump into them and touch them inappropriately, a victim might be uncertain as to whether the behavior is actually considered a form of sexual harassment. But the truth is, when any behavior displayed in a sexual context causes the work environment to become hostile or offensive to work in, it may be classified as a form of sexual harassment.

3. They don’t know who to report it to.

Employees who are harassed by a supervisor or manager often don’t know who they can turn to for help. Generally, when an employee experiences an issue at work, they would report it to their manager or supervisor. However, if that person happens to be the harasser, then a victim might not know who they can report the incident to. Rather than explore their options, many victims choose to brush off the incident or leave their job to avoid having to endure the behavior any longer.

Although an individual might feel as though they should refrain from reporting a sexual harassment incident, whether it is to save their job or because they don’t know who to bring their complaint to, they should know there are sexual harassment lawyers in Mississippi who can help them.

Connect with a Mississippi Sexual Harassment Attorney for Legal Advice and Assistance

If an individual is being sexually harassed at work or believes their employer’s behavior might constitute as a form of sexual harassment, USAttorneys.com can help them locate a lawyer in their city who they can discuss their concerns with. Whether an individual works in Jackson, Gulfport, or any other city in MS, USAttorneys.com will help them find a MS sexual harassment attorney close to them who is available and willing to help them with their matter.