When someone reports that they’ve been sexually harassed at work, it may not be something that just happened. There’s often a bit of a delay. It may have happened weeks ago, but there are also cases where it has been months or even years since the event in question.
Why is it common for people to delay making this report? Why wouldn’t they come forward if they know that they have a valid complaint?
4 potential reasons
It’s very important to remember that a delay in reporting does not invalidate the person’s claim. It can still be 100% true, even if they didn’t report it right away. Here are a few reasons why people may wait:
- They just want to put it behind them and move on from the situation. They are practicing avoidance behavior.
- They’re not sure what to do or what options they even have. Workers may not be fully aware of their rights.
- They’re worried about victim blaming. Sometimes, victims will feel shame or guilt, even though the event was in no way their own fault.
- Finally, they may be nervous about a negative outcome. For instance, they may be afraid of workplace retaliation or they may think that no one is going to believe them.
The important thing for workers to know in this situation is that they do have rights. There are legal steps they can take, and they have certain protections. For example, workplace retaliation – such as cutting a person‘s hours or firing them outright – is illegal after a sexual harassment complaint. Employees need to know exactly what protections they have and what legal steps they can take at this time.