Sexual Harassment – How To Protect Yourself

By Lisa O'Brien

According to recent research 28% of career girls and 7% of career guys have been subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace. Most victims are under 45 and new to the workplace. In most reported cases the perpetrators are men. However statistics show that that men are less likely report incidents.

What Is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment can include unwelcome touching, hugging or kissing, staring, suggestive comments or jokes, sexually explicit pictures, unwanted invitations to go out or requests for sex, intrusive questions about your private life or body, unnecessary familiarity, insults based on your sex, sexually explicit emails or SMS messages, accessing sexually explicit internet sites and behaviour which would also be an offence under the criminal law (such as physical assault, indecent exposure, sexual assault, stalking or obscene communications).

How To Protect Yourself

If you are being harassed, keep your cool and do the following:
Do not blame yourself
Warn the harasser you find their attentions unwelcome
Tell your immediate superior
Document all incidents
Contact your union
Contact the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
If at any stage you feel that you are in a dangerous situation, remove yourself immediately.