Deciding Whether to Report to Your Employer When considering how to deal with workplace harassment or misconduct, first consider whether you believe you can safely tell the harasser you want the behaviour to stop. If not, or if that doesn’t work, consider whether you feel comfortable reporting it to your employer. Before deciding whether to make a report to your employer, it is important to understand how your report will be handled. Every company handles harassment reporting differently. First, figure out if your employer has a harassment policy, code of conduct, or employee handbook. These documents may have instructions about how to report harassment or misconduct in the workplace.
Whether or not workplaces have harassment policies and how well they are enforced vary greatly. You may have the option of reporting in a variety of ways and to a variety of people, or your options may be very limited. This could be especially true if you work for a small company or for an independent production. Once you figure out how to report, who to report to, and what your employer prohibits, consider whether you feel comfortable reporting to those people and through those systems. Only you can decide if reporting to your employer is the right course of action.
However, it is important to know that not using the employer’s procedures, including its reporting mechanism, may make it difficult for you to win a case against your employer about the misconduct if you later decide to take legal action. If you work for a company, production, or studio If they exist and you can find them, check your employer’s policies about your options for reporting. You may want to request clarification from Human Resources (HR) if you work for a company, production or studio with an HR department or representative.
If you are working for a company, production, or studio, you may have the option of reporting through methods other than an HR employee, such as going to a supervisor or ombudsperson (an impartial, confidential options counsellor), using a hotline or helpline, or using an app or online reporting platform. Some employers may also offer confidential or anonymous reporting platforms. The end result may be the same, but you may find you are more comfortable with one of these options as opposed to reporting to HR.
If you work on an independent and/or small production If you are working on an independent production, especially a small production, you may not have access to a human resources department or representative. Your only reporting option may be going to your producers or a direct supervisor. If you are having trouble figuring out where and how to report, you can ask your supervisor. Your Right to Report Sexual Misconduct and Harassment 16