then backtrack and say he didn’t
mean anything by it. Research
shows that those jokers say these
things to raise their own status- so simply take it away again by
saying, ‘I don’t find that funny.’”
If you can’t confront the person,
speak to your manager or HR.
Sadly, the outcome of many
sexual harassment issues is that
the woman ends up leaving the
company – what Broderick calls
forced resignation. “When I see
women changing their behaviour,
or thinking they have to leave a
job that they love, I am deeply
saddened,” she says. “Reporting
does make a difference. Speaking
up isn’t only for you, it’s also for
every woman who works in that
company.” Harassment shouldn’t
be the price of a paycheck or just
something women need to put up
with in order to get ahead. As Dr
Tan told The Age, “I don’t think
anyone should give in to blatant
sexual harassment because [their]
career depends on it.” Hear, hear!
You’re a bit too
nervous to make
a report yourself.
Bring your work
bestie with you for
moral support. And
ask if any other co-
workers are dealing
with it. Then, report
it together.You told your
management, but
they’re not doing
anything about it.
Ignoring a report
of harassment or
retaliating against
you for reporting
is unlawful. Go to
humanrights.gov.
au/complaints/
make-complaint
for more info on
reporting your
company. >“Wait, was I
just harassed?”
Trust your gut – if you’re feeling uncomfortable or
stressed about someone’s behaviour at work, you have
the right to say something. Here are some ways to respondA co-worker
makes a single
inappropriate
comment or
sends a creepy
email or text.
Talk to the person
face-to-face if
possible to avoid
confusion. Say:
“That makes me
uncomfortable.
Please don’t say
that to me again.”
Check out your
company manual
or ask HR if there
is a procedure for
how to report
harassment and a
neutral employee
to report it to.
Don’t respond to
texts or emails, but
screenshot them
just in case.A co-worker
or group of
co-workers is
repeatedly giving
you unwanted
sexual or sexist
attention.
Tell your manager
(in writing, but
follow up in person)
that Mr or Ms X is
making crude
comments and it’s
making it hard for
you to work. The
harasser should be
removed or at least
warned, depending
on the situation and
on company policy.The person who
is harassing you
is an ex.
Take the same
steps. It doesn’t
matter if you were
once a couple or
had a consensual
hook-up. If their
current behaviour
is unwanted and
is hurting you at
work, it counts
as harassment.The person who’s
harassing you is
your manager.
Check out your
company manual
or guidelines to
see if there’s a
safe senior contact
to report it to, or
even just your
WORDS BY MICHELLE RUIZ. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LAUREN SAMS HR department.
“A former boss gawking at
women, commenting on
their body parts and how
he’d... do things to them.”- 34-year-old woman in retail
COSMOPOLITAN June 2015 71