Workplaces across the country are bound by a duty of care to their employees. They’re obligated to ensure that their workers are protected from preventable harms and that they’re trained so as to avoid injury or accidents at work. Meanwhile, they’re also liable if you experience harassment, bullying, or other forms of discrimination in the workplace. If you feel that you’ve been let down by your employer on any of the above counts, this is the article for you. Read on to learn how to address workplace misconduct or negligence.
Speaking With Trusted Seniors
If you trust a senior employee or manager in your firm, they may be the first port of call for you if you have concerns about your workplace. Be sure to think through what you intend to say to them in advance of organizing a meeting, seeing as you may be showing too much of your hand if you mention that you intend to speak to lawyers. There’s also your HR department, which may be a useful place to turn for advice or to lodge complaints. Having lodged complaints formally and in writing can only help your future appeals – especially if you end up seeking legal advice or action.
Knowing Your Rights
There may be some forms of discrimination, abuse, harassment, or negligence that you experience in the workplace that you’re unaware are actually breaking the law and infringing upon your rights. Meanwhile, you may be perfectly aware of your rights in the workplace but fearful of how a legal complaint may register with regards to your future prospects in your firm. These are legitimate reasons to be hesitant, but with the legal weight of federal or state laws in your favor, there’s no need to hold back if you believe you should seek legal assistance in your case.
Noting Evidence
It may feel difficult to prove that you’ve been discriminated against, abused, harassed, or bullied in the workplace. Sometimes, these events happen with a single person, with no witnesses around. As such, hundreds of people are concerned as to how they can actually prove their abuse to be taking place. For instance, many wonder: how to prove sexual harassment without witnesses? The answer is in meticulously taking evidence, noting down whenever you’re made to feel uncomfortable, harassed, abused, bullied, or treated in any way unfairly by your employer or by specific employees in your firm. This evidence will eventually help you build a legal case.
Contacting Lawyers
If you’re seeing little progress after lodging formal internal complaints, you’ll be well within your rights to refer your case to an external legal service that specializes in helping workers like you protect their rights and win compensation or recognition for the harms they’ve experienced in the workplace. Such legal teams are experienced professionals who know exactly how to process and progress with your case, taking the stress off your hands as they advise you exactly how to act in order to secure a positive result from your complaint or legal action.
There you have it: the four steps to consider when you’re considering holding your workplace to account for negligence, harassment, or other negative experiences you’re subjected to at work.