Unacceptable behavior in a New Mexico workplace or treatment that makes you uncomfortable is not always just an inconvenience. It is possible that the treatment you are experiencing is actually sexual harassment, and you do not have to stay silent if you are a victim. You should also not be subjected to additional duress and harm after reporting harassment of any kind.
Sexual harassment in a professional environment is reprehensible and unacceptable. You may feel like you are alone, and you could fear that speaking out could place your job at risk. Reporting sexual harassment or misconduct is an act of bravery, and employers cannot act out against employees who do this. You may benefit from knowing your rights as a victim and what you can do if you experience retaliation of any kind.
The laws that protect you
There are federal laws that ensure you are protected against retaliation after reporting sexual harassment. It may not be immediately clear that what you are experiencing counts as retaliation. If any of the following happened to you, it is possible you are the victim of additional mistreatment after exercising your rights:
- Verbal assaults, abuse or insults from a co-worker or employer
- Removal from your current position
- Seeing a reduction in your income
- Ostracization from others in your workplace and from workplace activities
- Termination from your job for no justifiable reason
These are only a few examples of the ways New Mexico employees could experience punishment after reporting sexual harassment. If this happens to you, it could be grounds to file a claim.
Do you have a claim?
Filing a claim could be a reasonable way by which you can hold liable parties accountable for what you experienced. You could have grounds to pursue this option if you reported sexual harassment, experienced a negative employment action after your report, and a link exists between the harassment report and negative employment action. To prevent harassment and retaliation, employers should have policies in place that allow victims to report their experience safely and without fear.
You could experience sexual harassment from a co-worker, an employer, third-party or someone else with whom you had contact at your place of work. If you are unsure about what you do after experiencing harassment or you have questions about potential harassment, you may find it helpful to learn about your rights and possible options for legal recourse available to you.
