Are you a waitress who is tired of getting your backside patted by “handsy” diners? Or perhaps you’re a clerk in a supermarket who dreads when a certain vendor drops by to restock because of the filthy comments they make to you.
You’ve been tolerating it thus far because the harassment doesn’t stem from your employer. But, are you aware that it is illegal to allow vendors or customers to harass the staff, too? It is, and your employer has the duty to provide workers with a safe and harassment-free work environment.
What can employees do?
Speak up after an incident occurs — every time. If a coworker witnessed an interaction with a client or vendor, ask them to summarize in writing what they saw. Also, speak to your supervisor about the unwanted touch or inappropriate remarks.
It’s always good to follow up these discussions with an email. This establishes a paper trail detailing the incident and shows that you are taking the invasive behavior or remarks very seriously (as you should).
Loop in HR when possible
If you work for an organization with a dedicated human resources (HR) department, make sure to email them as well. You could also copy them with the email you send to your department manager as formal notifications.
Understand your rights and responsibilities
All employees have certain legal rights and obligations when reporting incidents of harassment or discrimination. Every step you take now forms the building blocks for a potential lawsuit later if your concerns aren’t sufficiently addressed by your company.
Learning about how the Texas employment laws work can guide your next moves when attempting to rectify the situation.