11 Effective Ways To Deal With Workplace Harassment

An alarming issue, workplace harassment can leave you mentally and emotionally traumatized. Office bullying may be of various types, ranging from work-related harassment to sexual harassment. Albeit the issue needs to be addressed at the initial stage, people often find it hard to deal with their bully. They usually refrain from addressing the issue either due to a fear of putting their job into jeopardy, or a fear of inviting unnecessary trouble by offending someone. 

Well, hiding out will do you good only for a while, you will eventually have to confront the issue. Here's how you can deal with the workplace harassment:-

#1. Do not overlook

One of the most common mistakes that the victims of workplace harassment make is to ignore the initial signs of harassment. It may come as a surprise, but harassment can begin with something as normal as a joke. It is important to take the seemingly light episodes seriously, as that is how you will be able to nip it in the bud.

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#2. Confrontation

A primary way to deal with workplace harassment is to confront the bully directly. It is important for you to let the victimizer know that his behavior is unacceptable. Taking control in your hands might stop the bully right there.

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#3. Confide in a colleague

Have your own set of allies and share the harassment episode with them. Your allies can be a very efficient support system by helping you cope up with the stressful situation and finding ways to deal with the bully.

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#4. Keep a record

Another step that can be instrumental in dealing with harassment is to keep a detailed written record of it. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario. In case, you need to report the harassment formally; it would be way convenient if you have an accurate record of all the harassment episodes.

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#5. Inform an authority

When the mild harassment aggravates, it is high time to report the authorities of your office. Your supervisors and the human resources team can look into the matter more efficiently, and your safety gets well ensured.

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#6. Know the law

You should keep it in mind that workplace harassment has legal consequences. If you feel that the situation is getting out of control, and your office authorities have not responded well to your complaint, prepare yourself for a legal course. You should familiarize yourself with all the anti-harassment laws and discuss the matter with a lawyer.

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#7. Witness

Corroborating evidence is another thing that can help you deal with the matter. For fast relief, make sure that you get your colleagues to support your claim as witnesses. The colleagues you spend your entire day with are aware of the matter enough to help you as witnesses.

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#8. Medical record

To facilitate the easy determination of your relief, having a medical record of your emotional trauma is an appropriate step. Besides its legal significance, seeking medical help will help you cope up with the stress and return to a normal life at the earliest.

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#11. Know when to quit

People often confuse quitting with running away. However, clinging on to a workplace where you think it would be impossible for you to survive after the harassment is never a wise decision. If you think that calling quits on the workplace will provide you mental stability, then you should not coerce yourself into staying.

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We would love to hear from you. Tell us how you would deal with the workplace harassment. Kindly use the comment box to share your thoughts and opinions with us.

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