If you’re working in a hostile work environment, it’s stressful and emotionally draining. But with all of the awareness and information about harassment today, there are plenty of ways to handle these situations. Whether you’re planning to push through the bad environment or pursue legal proceedings, these tips will help you think through your individual situation and the ways to properly handle it.
Confront the Situation Head-On
Confronting harassment always depends on the situation in which it is occurring. If you’re facing physical or verbal intimidation, direct confrontation may not be the best or safest option for you. However, if you’re facing subtle actions or jokes that offend you at work, confronting the situation personally may be all that needs to happen. If someone is making jokes, for instance, they may not know that they’re being offensive. If the actions are intentional, a confident acknowledgement of the situation may scare the person away from any further actions against you.
Talk to Your Supervisor, if Applicable
Often, confronting the situation may just make things worse for you, so the best thing to do is to seek help. If you feel comfortable with your supervisor, then your supervisor could be a great ally for you in facing any actions you wish to pursue. Sometimes, however, the supervisor may be the one contributing to the hostile work environment. The key here is figuring out the power balance between you and your supervisor and choosing whether or not it would be appropriate to involve them.
Talk to Your Human Resources (HR) Professional
If you’re in a situation where you don’t feel like you can talk to your supervisor or confront the situation directly, talking to someone who’s trained to handle these situations may be your best option. The job of the human resource professional is to protect the employees in the company and make sure every employee and the company as a whole is meeting legal requirements. They know how to handle these situations, but they are also legally required to file claims.
Keep Documents
Choosing to file a claim with your HR professional is the legal way to deal with these situations. You have legal rights, and this is always a good option. However, the proceedings will go more smoothly if you keep any documents associated with the hostile environment. These documents can include emails, photographs, or even detailed summaries of any hostile conversations or actions you’ve experienced.
