Sexual harassment can be defined as physical or verbal contact in a sexual manner. Many women experience this while at work. Since you are likely to spend hours at your workplace, you want it to be a safe setting. Unfortunately, one in three women have experienced some form of sexual harassment in the workplace. When a woman is sexually harassed, they may not always be aware of what is going on or know how to handle it. If not handled properly, they could end up ruining their case and experience consequences that could make the situation worse. To avoid this, here are some mistakes you want to steer clear of. 

Not Knowing What Sexual Harassment Is

Just because a person acts inappropriately in a sexual manner, does not always constitute sexual harassment. It is important to understand what is classified as being harassment and what is not. One type of sexual harassment is quid pro quo sexual harassment. This is where your job or work is conditioned on what you will do for someone else sexually. For example, if your boss agrees to give you a raise if you kiss him, then this would be a form of quid pro quo sexual harassment. The other form of sexual harassment is called hostile work environment sexual harassment. This is when a coworker or supervisor's bad behavior is motivated by discrimination of the opposite sex. 

Failure to Report the Harassment in a Timely Manner

When you do feel that you are being sexually harassed in the workplace, it is imperative that you let human resources know about it. If you choose to wait, this could not only jeopardize your credibility, but it could also make the situation more difficult for human resources to investigate. Some states require the employee to let someone know in a timely manner; otherwise, the company is not held liable, and the case could end up being dropped. 

Not Hiring an Attorney

One of the biggest mistakes you could make when building a sexual harassment case is not getting an attorney involved. Sexual harassment claims can be very scary for a victim, especially when you have to discuss it with company officials. To understand what your rights are and avoid mistakes that could hurt your case, it is best for you to discuss your claim with a sexual harassment attorney. They can help you decide the best route so that you have the best chance at protecting your rights.