Sexual Harassment Stories and Experiences

Sarah

     I have been working for a large company for 2 years now. I started out in a small position and was given the opportunity to get a higher position in the company. My boss had been there for many years and I knew he was a very rude person but I thought nothing of it, I would just go to work and deal with it.

     Well I started my new position and I had to share an office with him, just us two. He would tell me jokes that were sexual in nature. He started to get comfortable and would tell me things about his personal life. Like things he did with his wife, sexually and in detail. I never said anything to him in fear that he would get me fired.

     He would tell me “this is between you and me, ok?” That made it harder to even say anything. Then he started asking me personal questions about my body, one place in particular. I felt really uncomfortable after this. This was a daily thing, I was about to quit because of it. I didn’t know what to do.

     I told one of my male coworkers and he thought I should speak out. I explained I was too scared, he has been in the company for so long, and I was there for less time. Then one day I just got fed up, he started giving me attitude and treating me bad in front of others and I just thought to myself, why should I put up with his crap and have to come to work everyday and not be respected?.

     I decided to talk, this was really hard to do. I went to my General Manager and told him the whole story, he was disgusted with what I told him, he couldn’t believe it. I was crying because of fear that my boss would go psycho and do something. They sent me home that day, my boss had no clue. The next day I went in and someone from HR was there to speak to me. My heart was pounding so fast I felt like fainting.

     I told her everything while she wrote it down. She interviewed other coworkers too. I asked if I could go home, I didn’t want to have to face him, knowing his temper I did not want to witness it. They told me they would move me from the office and if he were to say one thing to me he was to be fired. Well I went home and hours later receive a couple of calls from coworkers, they all called to tell me he got fired.

     I was in pure shock, I thought they would investigate, but he apparently didn’t deny anything so they decided to let him go. I had to go to work the next day and it was really hard, everyone was avoiding me, no one would even look at me, one coworker that was really good friends with my boss told someone to be careful what they say to me cause I could get them fired.

     I thought about quitting but I am going to stay strong. I am going to work everyday and not worry if anyone talks to me. I am there to work and not make friends. I need the money and I cant feel guilty for something I didn’t do wrong.

     I hope others read this and speak out if they are sexually harassed at work. It’s not worth going through it, even if everyone avoids it you have gained respect.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 19th, 2007 at 1:01 pm and is filed under Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Formal Investigations and Litigation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.