Everyone deserves fair treatment both in their daily lives and in their place of work. Sadly, as many employees in Missouri know, not everyone is granted the respect and fairness they deserve. In fact, in an alarming number of cases, workers are subjected to serious discrimination, mistreatment and abuse at work from their colleagues and even their employers.
To make things worse, the hostile work environment to which they are subjected can have a profound effect on their confidence, their performance at work and their general well-being. One of the major concerns facing employees in this position is sexual harassment. This can come in many forms and is often extremely distressing for those exposed to it.
In Jackson County, a female former employee of the County Sheriff’s Office has reached a $95,000 settlement with the office following a harassment charge involving another department employee. The charges were filed by Missouri’s Human Rights Commission on her behalf. Another harassment case involving the Sheriff’s Office was settled for $58,500.
Sadly, incidents like this are not uncommon and they are often difficult for those involved to report or even to talk about with trusted individuals. Sexual harassment in any form can be extremely distressing and it can take time to build up the confidence to explain what has happened. However, there is support available, so if you have experienced mistreatment of this or any other kind, it can be extremely beneficial to report it as soon as you feel able.
You may also decide to take legal action. If so, you could benefit from the advice of an attorney. He or she can weigh up the details of your case and might be able to help you decide on the best course of action to take in order to secure the justice and remuneration you deserve.
Source: KSHB, “VIDEO: Woman says fellow Jackson County Sheriff’s Office employee stripped her, took photos,” Shain Bergan and Andres Gutierrez, June 20, 2015
