What do I do when my coworkers are harassing me?

Harassment can never be a good experience and I feel for you. You need to understand where to draw a line since your mental and emotional well being must be your top priority. If its something affecting your mental health, dont hesitate to reach out or even ask for help. Deliver the message to coworkers in straight and clear voice. If its something we call bullying, deal how you deal with bullies. But if its more than bullying i.e. any physical harassment, go for help. Complaint to competent authority or even Police to make it stop. Asking for help never means you are weak or coward. I hope you stay strong and do the right thing for your emotional well being.

"Some behaviors, albeit making someone uncomfortable, can seem so harmless – there are no physical signs of abuse – that few people want to report them for fear of being seen as petty or as a snitch," Chancey told Business News Daily. Although broaching the subject of workplace harassment can be uncomfortable, nervousness is a normal feeling. Harassment claims should be taken seriously and addressed quickly and thoroughly, with as much discretion as possible. "If you are being harassed or think you may be, but are too scared to go forward, educating yourself on the facts is a great way to gain confidence to stand up for yourself," said Becca Garvin, executive search consultant at Find Great People. "The sooner you act on it, the easier it will be to put an end to it."

It is not allowed for coworkers to harass other employees on the job. Your work place has a responsibility to you and to others to provide protection from this in order to make the work environment safe for everyone present. Does your work place have a Human Resources department, also known as HR? If so, these are likely the people to go to. They deal with current and prospective employees, including harassment cases like this. Let them know what is going on, which is that you are being harassed. Let them know what is being said and how long it has been going on.

Taking the time to separate yourself from your work environment can be difficult, but necessary. Bringing your issues to someone at work and expressing how they make you feel can be the first step towards resolving the situation. If possible, you could also attempt to let your coworkers know how you are feeling. By calmly letting them know that what they are saying and doing is hurting you, you could be opening a line of communication with them. If this does not work, finding compassion in your friends and family when not at work can be helpful. Focusing on the positives around you can help you put aside the negatives at work.

If your coworkers are harassing you, there are multiple things you can do depending on what you feel most comfortable with. For instance, confronting these coworkers and expressing the consequences of their actions/words, in addition to what you would like to see change moving forward. However, if the harassment continues, you should absolutely connect with your supervisor/manager regarding the situation, the steps you took with them previously, and again what you would like to see moving forward. I realize that reaching out for help can seem scary and you may think that you are weak for not being able to figure things out on your own, but you absolutely do not deserve to be harassed. You deserve to be treated with respect and you are stronger than you know and you do not have to figure things out on your own (because there are people who care about you, support you and want what is best for you)

The very first thing to do is address the situation with your co-workers, if possible using "I" statements. For example, "When you speak to me using that tone, it makes me feel hurt." This will make your feelings explicit. If this does not do anything, the next thing to try is to speak to your direct manager. Make sure to formally log the complaint. If you have already tried that or you are not comfortable doing so, then HR would be the next best place to head. They should be able to offer an open ear and assist with the issue. If you've tried both of these routes, sometimes you can speak to your manager's manager or your coworker's manager (if it is different than your own). In the very worst case, try to begin looking for new opportunities in your free time if you need to get out of that company. It is helpful to have a role already lined up.

Working in a toxic environment can be really tough, it could be challenging and might be jeopardizing your professional development. Reporting it to HR would be the first recommendation. Make sure you document everything that had happened to you with this coworker, write down on paper any situation, including date, time and specifics. Do not leave anything out. Sometimes we are not allow to record or don't have written proofs like emails, or even camera footage of the harassment, and even sometimes witnesses are not helpful, this is why it is recommended to basically have a diary to cover your back in any circumstances.

Try to explain to your co workers that you do not like what they are doing. If they do not listen or if it is something that cannot be fixed with simple words, you need to speak to management because harassment is a very serious matter. If that does not work, try to contact Human Resources or the Better Business Bureau. They will find a way to help you and make you feel safe. No one should ever be harassed in the work place or in any place for that matter. Do not let it get out of hand.

I remind myself first that what is happening to me is not my fault- and then identify what is in my control and what isn't. It is in my control to find out what my workplace stance is on harassment. I then would check my workplace policy on bullying and harassment and talk to my line manager about what is going on. Depending on the severity of the harassment, I will either approach the coworker directly or arrange a formal conversation to put an end to the treatment. I am particularly sensitive to bad treatment within the workplace and will bring up the experience with my therapist as well.

Federal law prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace. According to the Equal Rights Advocates website, the legal definition of sexual harassment is “unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions or creates a hostile work environment.” This happens when a coworker makes lewd sexual comments about you or someone else in your presence that you find offensive. It could relate to him telling you lewd or dirty jokes that you don't like. A person who attempts an unwanted sexual advance is guilty of sexual harassment. So is a supervisor who infers you could receive a promotion for sexual favors.