Many workers are unaware of the state and federal laws that protect them. This leaves them vulnerable to being taken advantage of by their employer. We see this all the time in instances of discrimination and harassment. Yet, many workers who are subjected to sexual harassment or workplace discrimination minimize or shrug off what’s happened to them. They might think that the behavior exhibited towards them doesn’t rise to the level of illegality, or they may think that taking action to correct the behavior is more work than just letting it go.
But sexual harassment and workplace discrimination can have significant negative consequences on your individual wellbeing and your career.
The harm caused by sexual harassment and workplace discrimination
The impact of sexual harassment and workplace discrimination can be wide-reaching. Here are just some of the ramifications that you could face if you allow sexual harassment or workplace discrimination to go unchecked:
- Economic losses: Harassment and discrimination can lead to direct financial losses. You might miss out on a job opportunity, be passed over for promotion, be demoted, be given less hours, or even be fired based on your status in a protected class or as retaliation for reporting discrimination or harassment. These losses can leave you on unsteady financial footing, creating a lot of uncertainty about your future and how you’re going to make ends meet.
- Damage to your reputation: An adverse employment action taken against you can make you look bad, especially if your employer tries to justify it on grounds that your performance is weak, or you’ve been excessively absent from work. This reputational harm can follow you, too, making it more difficult to secure new employment and advance in the career that you’ve worked hard to build.
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering: Dealing with workplace discrimination and sexual harassment can be extraordinarily stressful. As a result, you might experience physical symptoms, such as excessive and severe headaches, stomach pains, and high blood pressure. The discrimination and harassment targeted at you can also take a mental toll, leaving you with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and perhaps even post-traumatic stress disorder. These mental health conditions can be difficult to overcome, and they may follow you for a significant period of your life unless you can secure effective treatment.
- Social damage: The mental toll taken on you can also impact your social life. You may be unwilling to go out with family members and friends, you may not have the confidence to seek out other employment, and your skills could diminish while you’re out of work. This, in turn, can reshape life as you know it.
Don’t let your employer get away with workplace discrimination or sexual harassment
As you can see, there’s a lot at stake when you’re subjected to workplace discrimination or sexual harassment. But you don’t have to let your employer get away with what they’ve done to you. Instead, you can gather evidence of the discrimination or harassment that’s occurred, as well as your employer’s response, and craft persuasive legal arguments aimed at holding your employer accountable. Hopefully then you’ll impose liability and recover compensation for the harm that’s been caused to you, giving you hope as you move onto the next chapter of your life.
