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WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF SEEING JUSTICE BEING DONE ?

Depending on the sensitivity and efficiency of your management, there are rather good chance that your case will be taken seriously is you have been sexually harassed. However, whether justice can been seen meted out is another matter

By bringing up a sexual harassment case, you and the harasser will be cross-examined thoroughly. The difficulties in proving an allegation is the main reason for few cases on sexual harassment. Thus, witnesses and evidence are your most important "assets".

Sexual harassment case may face years of expensive litigation. Furthermore, you will be forced to speak publicly about embarrassing events, be shunned by your co-employee and discriminated against by supervisors. These are the main reasons most women being sexually harassed don't sue or make any sort of formal complaint.

In any sexual harassment case, you must promptly report to your management and the police. Long delay in reporting such case is among the problems faced by the police in sexual harassment probe as it may be difficult to determine the criminal intent.

Since the current Penal Code, section 509 deals more with physical aspects of sexual harassment, not all sexual harassment perpetrators may be successfully brought to justice.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM BEING SEXUALLY HARASSED ?

You should take the following steps, if you are being sexually harassed at your workplace.

Immediately object the behavior and make clear to the harasser that you don't like what he is doing. To avoid any miscommunication, make sure you be clear and direct. Don't apologize or smile.

Keep written record of each incident. Describe the incident in full detail and note the date, time, witnesses and evidence if any and place the harassment happens. Look around you to see if there are any witnesses and evidence. They are your most important "assets". However, not all witness will agree to go on the stand. To some extend, intense pressure from you and helpful colleagues may help.

Tell someone immediately after it happens. Next, try to seek their advice and let them know exactly what happened. It will be better, if you can speak to another manager about it.

Make a formal complaint. If your company has procedures for resolving sexual harassment complaints, go through the channel. If it doesn't, speak to your boss or if he is the problem, speak to his superior. If there's no one you feel safe talking to, or if your complaint is ignored, you can make a police report. You might then want to consider hiring a lawyer to pursue a civil suit.