What Steps Can women Employees Take To Prevent Sexual Harassment? - hyderabadpolice.gov.in
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 | Identify/Recognise Harassment |
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| Ask yourself the following:
- Do I agree to the behaviour?
- Does the behaviour make me uncomfortable?
- Does the behaviour violate my dignity as an individual?
- Does it violate my right to work in dignity in a safe working environment?
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| Do not blame yourself. Don't ignore sexual harassment in the hope that it will go away. |
| Do the unexpected: Name the behavior. Whatever he's just done, say it, and be specific. Hold the harasser accountable for his actions. Don't make excuses for him; don't pretend it didn't really happen. Take charge of the encounter and let people know what he did. Privacy protects harassers, but visibility undermines them. |
| Make honest, direct statements. Speak the truth (no threats, no insults, no obscenities, no appeasing verbal fluff and padding). Be serious, straight forward, and blunt. |
| Demand that the harassment stop |
| Make it clear that all women have the right to be free from sexual harassment. Don't respond to the harasser's excuses or diversionary tactics |
| His behavior is the issue. Say what you have to say, and repeat it if he persists. Reinforce your statements with strong, self-respecting body language |
| End the interaction on your own terms, with a strong closing statement: 'You heard me. Stop harassing women' |
| If you decide to file charges later |
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1. Keep records: Keep track of what happens in a journal or diary and keep any letters or notes or other documents you receive. Write down the dates, times, places, and an account of what happened. Write down the names of any witnesses.
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2. Write a letter. People have successfully stopped sexual harassment by writing a letter detailing the behavior that is offensive and asking the person who is harassing them to stop the behavior The letter should be polite, unemotional, and detailed. Such a letter seems to be more powerful than a verbal request. The recipient of the letter seldom writes back; the person usually just stops the behavior.
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3. Set your own boundaries: Say "NO" emphatically and clearly when you are asked to go places, do things, and respond to questions, or engage in situations that make you uncomfortable. Do not worry about offending the other person or hurting his or her ego. Take care of yourself first.
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4. Be aware of situations and people who may harm you: Don't ignore other's warnings about particular people or social settings. Acknowledge their concern for you and for themselves.
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5. Take a colleague or sympathetic senior into confidence so that you have reliable witness to stand up for you when it comes down to your word against his.
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6. Don’t confuse the company with the individual. Just because one person has made life miserable for you, it doesn't mean that the company is at fault.
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7. If those in authority, act against him swiftly and firmly, then absolve them of blame and move on.
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