Sexual Harassment

"DON'T WORK IN THE DARK"
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

This brochure can help you deal with sexual harassment at work. It describes sexual harassment and tells you how to handle it.

HAVE ANY OF THESE THINGS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU AT WORK?

·Someone said something sexual about how you look.
·Someone touched you sexually when you didn't want them to.
·Someone made sexual jokes or said sexual things that you didn't like.
·Someone showed you or put up pornographic pictures.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Each year, many women experience sexual harassment at work. It's not just upsetting. It's illegal.

LAWS PROTECT YOU

Sexual harassment violates a law called the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law tells us that:

1. Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual attention at work. It includes touching you, saying sexual things to you, asking for sex, or making advances toward you

2. Sexual harassment is illegal if:
·You have to go along with it to get or keep a job; or
· You have to go along with it to get a raise or a vacation, or to influence other decisions about your job; or
· The harassment of making it hard for you to work.

"What if nobody else saw it happen?" The law still protects you.

"What if I didn't lose my job?" The law still protects you.

"What if the harasser is not my boss, but rather a coworker or client?" The law still protects you.

"What if I sometimes played along and submitted to sexual behavior-but clearly didn't want to?"The law still protects you.

"What if it happened only one, but was serious--like unwanted touching of my private body parts?" The law still protects you.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU ARE SEXUALLY HARASSED?

1. Say "NO" clearly. Tell your harasser to stop. Tell your harasser that you do not want the sexual attention. If it happens again, send a letter telling your harasser to stop, and keep a copy for yourself.

2. Write down what happened. Record the date, time and place. Include what the person said to you, and if the person touched you. Write down where you were touched and who was there. Keep a copy of these notes at home. They can be useful if you decide to file a charge against your company or to take legal action.

3. Get support from friends, family, and coworkers. Some women feel depressed or get ulcers, headaches or nausea because of the harassment. Take care of yourself. If you are afraid that you might lose your job, try to find out if other women have the same problem at the company. Join with them to try to work out this problem.

4. Talk to your union representative if you are represented by a union.

5. Talk to your employer. Your employer should have a written policy against sexual harassment and a procedure for making a complaint. Check your employee handbook or talk to the personnel or equal employment opportunity office.

6. Keep a record of your work. Keep copies of performance evaluations and memos that show that you do a good job at work. The harasser may question your job performance in order to defendhis behavior.

7. You have a right to file a charge. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal government agency that was created to protect you. You can call them toll-free at 1-800-669-EEOC. Most states and local governments have offices that handle discrimination complaints. They may be used under "Human Rights" or "Civil Rights" in the government section of your area phone book.

8. Find out more about your legal rights. You do not need a lawyer to file a charge with EEOC. But you may want to talk with a lawyer who specializes in sex discrimination. The state bar association or the women's bar association in your area can refer you to lawyers. They can help you figure out what to do. They know the pros and cons of different legal actions, including the time and the cost of filing a lawsuit.

YOU CAN WIN

Many women have fought discrimination and have improved their work lives. The first step is to know your rights under the law. Laws give you and your coworkers the right to start an employee group or a union to try to get better treatment at work. You can also go to court to get back the money you lost because of discrimination. The new Civil Rights Act of 1991 gives you the right to be paid money for the hurt and the pain that discrimination caused you.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Women's Bureau
U.S. Department of Labor
Washington, D.C. 20210
1-800-827-5335
TDD: 1-800-326-2577

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
1801 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20507
1-800-669-EEOC
TDD: 1 800-800-3302

REGIONAL OFFICES OF THE WOMEN'S BUREAU

Region I: Boston

J.F. Kennedy Building
Government Center, Room E-270
Boston, MA 02203
Phone: 1-800-518-3585 or (617) 565-1988
(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont)

Region II: New York

201 Varick Street, Room 601
New York, NY 10014
Phone: (212) 337-2389
(New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands)

Region III: Philadelphia

The Curtis Center, Suite 880 West
170 S. Independence Mall West
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3318
Phone: 1-800-379-9042 or (215)861-4860
(Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, West Virginia)

Region IV: Atlanta

Atlanta Federal Center, Suite 7T95
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 1-800-672-8356 or (404) 562-2336
(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee)

Region V: Chicago

230 S. Dearborn Street, Room 1022
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 1-800-648-8183 or (312) 353-6985
(Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin)

Region VI: Dallas

Federal Building
525 Griffin Street, Suite 735
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 1-888-887-6794 or (214) 767-6985
(Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)

Region VII: Kansas City

City Center Square Building
1100 Main Street, Suite 845
Kansas City, MO 64105
Phone: 1-800-252-4706 or (816) 426-6108
(Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska)

Region VIll: Denver

1801 California Street, Suite 905
Denver, CO 80202-2614
Phone: 1-800-299-0886 or (303) 844-1286
(Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming)

Region IX: San Francisco

71 Stevenson Street, Suite 927
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 1-877-923-6509 or (415) 975-4750
(Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada)

Region X: Seattle

1111 Third Avenue, Room 925
Seattle, WA 98101-3211
Phone: 1-888-296-7011 or (206) 553-1534
(Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)

WORKING FOR WORKING WOMEN

The Women's Bureau, part of the U.S. Department of Labor, was created by Congress in 1920. Our job is to research and promote policies to improve working conditions for women. The Women's Bureau informs people about the rights of working women using brochures like this one. Regional Women's Bureau offices are listed in this brochure. Please feel free to call or write us. Together we can make a better workplace for everyone.

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