Not all cases of sexual harassment are immediately noticeable. Your coworkers might not notice it, but you would. So, let's discuss options on how to address and stop sexual harassment at work, as often handled by our prescreened California Employment Law Attorneys.

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When it comes to ending workplace sexual harassment, there are numerous levels of escalation to consider.

You should make every effort to put an end to it. If it doesn't work, read through your employee handbook or manual to discover what policies the company has in place, then file a complaint with them.

Whatever the facts of the case may be, you should document everything (every incidence of harassment, any steps taken by superiors, etc.) because it will only strengthen your case.

1. Inform The Harasser That Their Actions Are Inappropriate

While this is the most challenging step for victims of harassment, it is the most effective way to stop the behavior in the long run. The harasser may not even realize that their behavior is objectionable. Thus it's better to "nip" it in the bud before inappropriate comments or jokes evolve into something worse if left unchecked.

If you don't want to confront the harasser, write a short letter or email informing them that you want the harassment to cease.

Tell a supervisor if you don't feel comfortable doing this. Make a copy of any letter you write. If you're sending an email, use a company email address. Every action you take, as well as your response, should be documented.

2. Approach Supervisors and Human Resources

If the harassment continues despite personal efforts to stop, then take your complaint to the next level. Make sure you follow all of your company's sexual harassment policies. Then, you can document everything to show that you took every action the company recommended.

Escalate the complaint up the chain of command if you don't get a satisfactory answer from management at each step.

If you get retaliated against to reporting your harasser, contact a California Employment Attorney immediately. California law protects employees from retaliation for fighting for their rights, including working to stop sexual harassment.

3. Record All Instances Of Harassment

If you don't follow anti-harassment company procedures and give them a chance to cease harassing you, you will almost certainly lose in court. To submit a complaint within the company, inform them of the situation, document it, and save backups in files away from the workplace.

Emails and memos to coworkers and superiors aren't the only documents that need to be kept. In addition, you should keep track of all instances of harassment as they occur.

This contains details other than the date and time, such as the people involved, any observers, their reactions, how the event affected your work and general well-being, and so on.

Keeping a journal of such situations will help you make your case and will assist you in recollecting events without losing or misremembering specifics. Your California Employment Law Attorney can also use this as evidence for other possible employment law claim.

4. Know That Employer Retaliation Is Illegal

Employees who submit complaints are protected from retaliation by their employers. While this may provide some reassurance, employees are aware that retaliation in some form may occur in the real world.

As a result, you should obtain a copy of your personnel file before filing a complaint. Then, if the firm retaliates by demoting or transferring you while claiming you have a poor track record, you'll have documentation of good past work performance and assessments.

In these litigious times, it's best to plan for the worst (a lawsuit to settle your claim) and be ready with a California Employment Law Attorney at your side.

5. Seek Government Intervention

To file a civil action, you first need to submit a complaint with the EEOC (this is the federal agency that's in charge of enforcing the law). You can only launch a Title VII complaint once the EEOC has completed its investigation and no settlement has been reached.

Make sure you file your claim before any deadlines set by the federal or state governments.