Workplace harassment usually involves a pattern or series of incidents. Knowing how to record these incidents – and what should be documented for each instance of harassment – can be crucial to gathering evidence, protecting yourself and fighting back later.
Developing a Workplace Harassment Log Book
When it comes to logging instances of workplace harassment, here are the fundamentals of keeping a log:
- Document every incident – No matter how “minor” some incident may have seemed, make sure to note it in your log. Recording minor, as well as more major, instances of harassment can be pivotal to establishing a pattern (and possibly an escalating pattern) of harassment.
- Create your record ASAP after the occurrence – Try not to wait too long after experiencing harassment at work to document what happened. Writing down the details as soon as possible after the experience can minimize the chances of forgetting or misremembering important details.
- Note as many details as possible – For each incident documented in your harassment log, note when and where it occurred, who the alleged harasser was, and what the harassment involved. Also note whether there were witnesses (and, if so, who), whether you reported the incident to the employer (and, if so, how) and whether the employer took any action after your report was filed (and, if so, what).
Documenting Workplace Harassment: Additional Helpful Tips
- Not all instances of harassment involve verbal interactions. Some may involve written communications, the display of offensive items in the workplace, etc. For these types of instances, be sure to collect evidence as appropriate – printing out emails, taking pictures of offensive displays, etc. – in addition to documenting the experience in your log.
- If there were witnesses to a specific incident, consider asking them to write down their experience/what they witnessed. Some colleagues may be willing to support this effort.
- Don’t hesitate to contact an experienced harassment lawyer at Urbanic & Associates if you believe you have been the target of workplace harassment. We can help you defend your rights and hold harassers accountable.
Contact a Los Angeles Harassment Attorney at Urbanic & Associates
Have you been the target of workplace discrimination, harassment or retaliation? If so, you can turn to Los Angeles harassment attorney at Urbanic & Associates for help defending your rights and pursuing justice. Since 2000, our lawyers have been dedicated, aggressive advocates for our clients, helping them stand up to even the most formidable opponents in any legal setting.
Call Urbanic & Associates today at (310) 216-0900 or send our firm an email using the contact form on this page to find out more about your options for justice and recovery.
From our offices based in Los Angeles, Attorney James Urbanic provides superior representation to clients throughout Los Angeles County and southern California, including (but not limited to) those in Glendale, Burbank, Alhambra, Van Nuys, Santa Monica and Orange County.