Workplace harassment is illegal under both state and federal law. Even so, it happens frequently, and employers often fail to respond appropriately.
Learning what to do after harassment occurs in Minneapolis can help you stop the conduct quickly and hold your employer accountable. Contact an employment harassment attorney at Wanta Thome immediately, and we can explain how you can build a strong case to protect your rights.
People often believe that workplace conflict is inevitable, or that doing a good job means suffering through situations that rob you of confidence or dignity. However, employers have a legal obligation to protect you from workplace harassment and take effective steps to stop any mistreatment.
The Minnesota Human Rights Act appears in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 363A. Among other provisions, it bars discrimination based on protected categories such as race, gender, disability, religion, and many others. When someone harasses you at work because of your membership in a protected class, they are breaking the law.
When businesses truly value their workers, they create a culture where they treat everyone with respect and allow them to achieve their potential. Unfortunately, many employers fail to meet these expectations. Our Minneapolis-based lawyers at Wanta Thome devote their careers to helping people know what to do after harassment happens.
You should never tolerate harassment at work or assume that you can manage it yourself. Workplace mistreatment can hurt your career, and more importantly, enduring harassment can negatively affect your mental and physical health.
When harassment occurs, you should ask the harasser to stop if it feels safe to do so. If they do not stop immediately or if they ridicule or shun you because of your request, you should take the matter further and report the harassment to management.
The law protects you from retaliation for reporting illegal conduct. Always report it to your supervisor or to your employer’s human resources department immediately and in writing. Then, quickly contact our Minneapolis harassment attorneys to discuss how to proceed.
Employers may say they want to provide a safe workplace, but when an incident occurs, they often focus more on protecting their position than protecting the harassed employee. In many cases, this means an employer may try to shift responsibility for the incident onto you.
You can counter by presenting thorough documentation of the harassment you suffered. Keep copies of voicemails, take screenshots of electronic messages, compile emails, and save any paper evidence that demonstrates harassing conduct. When you complain about a situation, always follow up in writing if the initial complaint was verbal.
Write down what you experience and what people say, and describe the events that you perceive as harassment. Record the names and contact information of any witnesses. If you are unsure how to document a specific situation or event, contact our lawyers in Minneapolis for advice about what to do after experiencing harassment.
Workplace harassment can impact your career and your health. Protect yourself by fighting back with the help of Wanta Thome Employment Lawyers. We can guide you through what to do after harassment occurs in Minneapolis.
Our team works on a contingency basis, meaning that we only accept a fee at the end of a case if we win compensation for you. Initial case reviews are free, so contact us today to discuss your harassment case and get the justice you deserve.