When a manager creates a hostile environment, it can become difficult to find enjoyment at work. It is even tougher if your manager’s behavior is focused directly on you, making your job a nightmare. The type of harassment can vary, ranging from sexual to verbal, but the results are almost always the same.
In 2023, 52% of employees were found to face harassment in the workplace. This shows how vast the issue is, which makes knowing how to handle this situation all the more important, especially if your manager is the culprit. After all, who do you turn to in those circumstances? Although you can seek legal help, there are other ways to resolve the issue.
Before you contact an employment attorney for assistance, you should follow the steps outlined in this article.
Record All Incidents in Writing
Keeping a record that documents every incident of harassment can benefit you if your manager continues to act this way. These records should contain the dates, times, and places of each occurrence. You must also keep a record of who harassed you (in this case, it will be your manager), what happened during that incident, what was said, and if there were any witnesses.
This will ensure you have detailed notes to look back on at some points in the future. If you report the harassment with someone at your company or a lawyer, your records will be used as evidence. You might also be asked to provide emails, text messages, and other pieces of proof.
Ask Your Manager to Stop
Speaking to the person who is harassing you is a key step in resolving this issue. Some managers do not realize their behavior has become hostile at times, so this can give you both the opportunity to solve it. Your manager could implement changes to remedy their behavior before you need to take the matter further.
When you do talk to your manager about their behavior, you should avoid becoming angry or upset. Ensure you both sit in a quiet location in the office to avoid distractions or attracting the attention of others. You should conduct yourself in a professional manner; if your manager acts angrily or immaturely during the discussion, then you can feel at ease knowing you were not in the wrong.
If the meeting does not end well or your manager continues to behave poorly towards you, you should report them to your human resources department.
Report the Harassment to HR
Unfortunately, if the harassment persists, you will need to report the issue to HR. This is considered to be a “protected activity.” You can also do this if you feel uncomfortable addressing your manager yourself. Usually, harassment should be reported to your immediate supervisor; however, if the perpetrator is your manager, contacting HR is the next best thing.
It is best to do this in a preplanned meeting instead of marching into the HR manager’s office spontaneously. This will guarantee you have their full attention during the discussion. During your meeting, you will often have to present the evidence you have collected. This will be stronger than a solely verbal complaint, which HR professionals might perceive as hearsay.
Your HR representative should proceed using a compliance procedure held by the company.
When you report harassment to your HR department or anyone else, you must keep a record of these meetings, too. If no resolution is made, you are justified to either go to someone higher up in the company, contact the EEOC, or speak to a lawyer.
Although it can be a difficult situation, resolving harassment issues in the workplace is an essential task. Your work experience will suffer greatly if you attempt to ignore your manager’s hostile behavior.
By using the steps outlined in this article, you can handle your manager’s toxic conduct and overcome it.
