Sexual harassment at work

What sexual harassment at work can look like

Sexual harassment is not always obvious. It can include unwanted sexual comments, touching, requests for sexual favors, repeated flirting after you said no, sexual jokes, texts, photos, or pressure tied to your job. It can come from a boss, co-worker, customer, client, or vendor.

In some situations, harassment may be illegal when it affects your job, makes you fear losing work, or creates a hostile work environment. A hostile work environment usually means the behavior is serious or happens often enough to make work intimidating, abusive, or hard to do.

One incident can matter if it is severe, and a pattern of smaller acts can matter too. The exact legal rules depend on the facts, your state, and the type of employer, so it is important to speak with a licensed attorney about your specific situation. You can also learn more about worker protections on our rights page and in our guides.

Warning signs that should not be ignored

Common warning signs include:

• sexual jokes, comments about your body, or questions about your sex life
• unwanted touching, blocking your path, hugging, kissing, or standing too close
• repeated messages, calls, or social media contact you did not want
• being asked for dates or sexual favors after you said no
• threats, schedule changes, bad assignments, or firing after you rejected someone
• sexual images, videos, or comments shared at work
• being treated worse because of pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression

Harassment can happen to women, men, and nonbinary workers. It can happen in offices, restaurants, farms, warehouses, stores, construction sites, hospitals, and remote jobs.

If you are an immigrant or do not speak English as your first language, your workplace rights generally still apply regardless of immigration status. If someone uses your status, accent, or fear of reporting against you, that may be important to mention when you speak with an attorney. See workplace rights for immigrant workers and non-English-speaking workers.

What you can do right now

If you feel safe, tell the person to stop clearly and briefly. If you do not feel safe doing that, you do not have to. Your safety comes first.

Start a simple record. Write down dates, times, places, what was said or done, who saw it, and how it affected your work. Save work schedules, emails, texts, voicemails, photos, or messages you are allowed to keep. Keep your notes somewhere the employer cannot access, like a personal device or notebook.

Check your employee handbook or reporting policy if you have one. Many workers report to HR, a manager, an owner, or another person listed in the policy. If the harasser is your supervisor, report to another person in the chain if possible. For practical tips, read how to report harassment at work and sexual harassment at work.

If you were fired, demoted, had your hours cut, or were punished after speaking up, that may be retaliation. Learn more about retaliation after a complaint and, if you want to talk through your options, get matched for a free consultation with an independent attorney.

What not to do if you are trying to protect yourself

Do not assume you have to quit immediately to protect your rights. In some cases, staying long enough to report the problem or gather basic information may matter, though every situation is different and safety comes first.

Do not use a work email account or work device for private notes if you can avoid it. Do not take trade secrets, private customer files, or documents you are not allowed to keep. Stick to lawful, basic records of what happened to you.

Do not wait too long to learn about deadlines. Time limits for workplace claims vary by state and claim, and some can be as short as 180 days. An attorney can help you understand which deadlines may apply. You can also review our deadline quick guide and statute of limitations guide.

How a lawyer may help and how WorkRightMatch fits in

A licensed employment attorney may be able to explain whether the facts could support a claim, what evidence may help, whether reporting internally makes sense, and what deadlines may apply. Many employment attorneys work on contingency, which often means they only get paid if the worker recovers money, and many offer a free consultation. Fee arrangements vary, and you would agree to any fees directly with the attorney.

WorkRightMatch is not a law firm and not your lawyer. We do not give legal advice or form an attorney-client relationship. We are a free attorney-matching and educational service that helps workers connect with independent licensed employment attorneys. If you want to explore your options, you can get matched or learn more about how it works and what an employment lawyer does.