How can sexual harassment affect your experience at work?

If you have been the victim of sexual harassment at your workplace in California, it has probably done more than cause you to feel uncomfortable. If left ignored, not only could you experience increasingly negative side effects, but the perpetrator of your harassment may begin to target more people and continue to create a hostile working environment. As soon as you feel that you have been harassed, it is imperative that you bring your concerns to the attention of a superior. 

According to Stanford University, continual sexual harassment may cause you to feel so anxious about going to work that you consider resigning from your job altogether. Pervasive thoughts about the harassment you have been the victim of could affect your ability to sleep or your desire to eat and take proper care of yourself. Feelings of anger or embarrassment may cause you to feel self-conscious and impact your ability to work well with others in your job. 

With a noticeable effect on your ability to perform your job effectively, a lack of focus and decreased productivity, you may have to answer to your superior as to why there has been a decline in the quality or quantity of your work. Being proactive about disclosing what you have experienced and how it has impacted your confidence or ability to do your job is crucial for a solution to be implemented before it is too late. 

Your employer may have a confidential hotline that you can contact to report your concerns or you could go directly to the human resources department. If the behavior escalates or you are terminated because of what you reported, you have the legal right to file a claim against your employer.