Find out what you can do to stop the harasser. You don't have to take it.

Confront the harasser
If you do this verbally, speak up straight away, or practise what you are going to say first. You might want to ask one of your colleagues, or your union representative, someone you feel you can trust, to accompany you to give you moral support. If necessary, they could also act as a witness. Speak clearly and slowly, maintaining direct eye contact. Describe the behaviour, its effect on you, and that you want it to stop. Ignore any attempts to trivialise or dismiss what you say. Don’t smile or apologise; this will undermine your complaint. When you have finished what you want to say, walk away: the less you say, the more powerful you’ll be.

If you feel you can’t face the harasser, you might prefer to write to them to explain that their behaviour is making you feel uncomfortable, angry or belittled, and that you want it to stop. Let them know that you will take the matter further if they carry on. It’s useful to keep a copy of the letter.

Keep a dairy of incidents
Note down all the behaviour that offends you in a diary. Record the date, time and place and the names of any other people who are there. This will help you to remember details if you have to make a complaint. If the harassment is affecting your health, causing symptoms of stress or depression, for example, go to see your doctor.

Make a complaint
Find out if your company has a sexual harassment policy or grievance procedure. Decide whether your complaint should be formal or informal. Seek advice - the Equal Opportunities Commission can tell you about your rights under the Sex Discrimination Act and advise you about your options for action. Approach someone you trust in management for support, such as your personnel department or manager. Whoever you report to must make certain that your complaint is investigated and that something is done about it. Make a record of the date you complained about the harassment, who you spoke to, what was said and what action was agreed on. This will be important if you decide later that you want to go to an employment tribunal. If you can’t follow any of these options, or if you are not satisfied by them, you could take your case to a tribunal.

Remember
It’s not your fault – you are not responsible for the behaviour of the harasser.

Compiled with the help of Women Against Sexual Harassment (WaSH)

Further information

• Women Against Sexual Harassment (WaSH), 5th Floor The Wheel, 4 Wild Court (off Kingsway), London WC2B 4AU (020 7405 0430)
• The Equal Opportunities Commission, Head Office, Overseas House, Quay Street, Manchester M3 3HN (0161 833 9244; fax: 835 1657; email). Wales: Windsor House, Windsor Lane, Cardiff CF1 3DE (01222 343552; fax: 641079; email). Scotland: Stock Exchange House, 7 Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow G2 1QW; email. The EOC has published a code of practice on measures that can be taken to achieve equality between men and women. It would be useful to get hold of a copy of this Code of Practice for the Elimination of Discrimination on Grounds of Sex and Marriage and the Promotion of Equality of Opportunity in Employment if you are thinking of making a claim. You can get it from the EOC. For equality issues in Northern Ireland contact the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
• Rights of Women, 52 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8RT (020 7251 6577)
• Citizens Advice Bureau – look in Yellow Pages, ask at your local library or call the National Association of Citizen’s Advice Bureaux in England and Wales (020 7833 2181), in Scotland (0131 667 0156) and in Northern Ireland (028 90 231120)
• Your local law centre – look in Yellow Pages or call the Law Centres Federation (020 7387 8570; Scotland: 0141 561 7266)