The relationships that you have at work are likely to define the way you view your job. When you have good communication with your coworkers, you’ll probably be more efficient and happier in your work. But if you are facing difficulty in dealing with a coworker, it could mean that your career suffers as a result.
Many people accept inappropriate behavior in the workplace when they should not. It’s never necessary to accept such behavior, because harassment in the work environment is unlawful. If you believe that the negative experience you had at work in Kansas City was a form of harassment, it is a good idea to understand how to set boundaries in the workplace, and how to take action when these boundaries have been crossed.
How to know your boundaries
It can be difficult to know how to draw the line when it comes to boundaries at work. For example, it’s common for people to question whether they were a victim of a tasteless joke in the office or a victim of harassment.
Generally speaking, if you feel that the behavior you have experienced in the workplace was enough to have created a hostile environment, it can constitute harassment. For example, if a coworker is questioning you often about your religion and faith, this could be a type of harassment. It’s important to trust your intuition and consider how the behavior makes you feel, rather than what the intent was.
How to deal with workplace harassment
If you genuinely believe that you are a victim of workplace harassment, you have several possible options. While you may want to file a complaint internally as a first step, you also have the right to file a report with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). When you file a complaint, you will be protected from retaliation. This means that your employer cannot punish you in any way as a result of your making a complaint.
It’s vital that you do not tolerate behavior that makes you uncomfortable at work. Bullying and harassment are surprisingly common, but the law is in place to protect victims. Make sure that you take swift action to protect your career from harassing behavior.
