3 Things To Do If You're Facing Sexual Harassment Accusations At Work
More than likely, you've never gone to work with the expectation that you would be approached and accused of sexual harassment. Unfortunately, this happens on a daily basis to both men and women in the workplace. If you have recently been informed that a co-worker has brought sexual harassment allegations against you at work, there are a few important steps you need to take now to protect your rights and best interests moving forward -- regardless of your innocence or guilt.
Be Mindful of What You Say
First and foremost, it's now more important than ever to watch what you say in the workplace, even with other co-workers around the water cooler. With these allegations against you, a well-meaning joke made around the water cooler or even a comment in an email can come back to bite you down the road. If anyone from Human Resources requests a statement from you regarding the allegations being brought against you, advise him or her that you would like to wait until you have retained legal counsel before you make a verbal or written statement.
Consult With a Defense Attorney
Even if you haven't been asked to provide a statement at this point in time, it's in your best interests to consult with an experienced sexual harassment defense attorney regarding your allegations. After all, there is a good chance that the person who has brought these allegations against you will want to file a police report (if they haven't already), and this could quickly turn into a criminal charge against you. Being proactive about seeking legal defense will help you be prepared for this eventuality; plus, a lawyer will be able to help with determining potential defense strategies for your case that could lead to charges being dropped.
Decide Whether You Will Keep Your Job
Another important decision you'll need to make after being accused of sexual harassment in the workplace is whether or not you want to keep your job as the case is being investigated. Keep in mind that if you voluntarily quit your job now (rather than being terminated later on), your employer will not be able to divulge the reasons for you leaving to a potential future employer. On the other hand, if you are convicted of sexual harassment as a crime, this will appear on your criminal record, which will be detectable by a background check run by any future employers anyway.
For more information, contact your local sexual harassment attorney.