Sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination both take place on the job. Many employees find themselves facing behavior that is unacceptable and that makes them feel uncomfortable. They may be forced to work in a hostile work environment, or they may see direct discrimination that harms their career, such as being passed over for promotions.
Some of these employees do speak up, but not all. In some cases, employees do not make a report to try to rectify the situation. In other cases, after one employee makes a report, other people will come forward and say the same thing has been happening to them. So why had they not said anything sooner?
Fear of retaliation
The main reason for this is that employees fear retaliation for making a report. They do not want to rock the boat. Their employment is a crucial part of their lives, and they value their income so much that they do not want to put it at risk.
Some employees worry that no one is going to believe their claims in the first place. Others worry that filing a report will cause the employer to terminate them or fire them from their position. Even employees who are not worried about being fired may be concerned about repercussions, like having their wages or hours cut or not seeing any more movement up the corporate ladder.
While all of these fears do make sense, and maintaining employment is important, it is also crucial for employees to remember that this type of retaliation is itself illegal. If an employee makes a valid report about discrimination, sexual harassment or other such issues and the employer retaliates, there are legal steps they can take.
Understanding your rights
It can feel intimidating to speak up about this type of behavior in the workplace, but it is important for employees to understand all of their rights and their legal options. It can often help to work with an experienced law firm.