Tuesday, July 19, 2011

How do I deal with workplace harassment without jeopardizing my career?

I am in a difficult situation. I am a new graduate lucky enough to find a fantastic job in my industry. I am a young single female in a work environment dominated by older men. I am ambitious and hardworking and put in extra hours. My immediate supervisors have had a very high opinion of me and have communicated this to me and to other managers within the company. An opportunity arose where my supervisor wanted to promote me, which was met by others with accusations of him having a "personal relationship" with me due to the amount of praise directed at me. Because of this, I was passed up for a promotion and new opportunity while being told by a higher-up that my boss (who was reassigned to a new project) did not need any distractions. Embarrassed and disappointed, I then was put under the supervision of another supervisor, who asked me flat out if I had slept with my last boss. This supervisor regularly makes sexual advances and lewd comments in my direction, in addition to touching me excessively (rubbing my leg, grabbing my waist), I've told him multiple times and sternly that it is inappropriate and makes me feel uncomfortable, to be told that "this is the way it is in this industry". I fear (and strongly believe) that if I complain I will lose my job (which I really love minus the harassment) and be black marked in the industry. I live in a smaller city where similar opportunities are not widely available to someone with my experience level and I recently took on a mortgage. What is the best way to handle this awful situation while maintaining my dignity and employment status?

No comments:

Post a Comment