Considerations before reporting to your employer If you decide to report harassment to your employer, it’s important to follow the procedure your employer lays out for reporting, if such procedures are provided. If you later decide to take legal action, the employer can use the fact that you did not comply with its procedures as a defence against your case if you:
Decide not to report through your employer’s reporting mechanism Provide insufficient information to allow the employer to investigate; or Otherwise, do not comply with the employer’s reporting procedures In other words, not using your employer’s procedures (including its reporting mechanism) may make it difficult for you to win a case later. Before making your report, write a detailed summary of the circumstances surrounding your report. Try to include all dates, times, places, conversations, witnesses, relevant documents (such as emails or text messages), and any other details that might aid the investigation.
We created an Incident Report Template you can use as a guide for saving important information. Find it on our website at www.timesupuk.org. Below are some factors to carefully consider before reporting. Advantages of reporting to your employer You are putting your employer on notice of behaviour that you believe is inappropriate or unlawful. You may be helping others who are experiencing similar issues. Your employer may resolve your concerns quickly and take appropriate corrective action, if necessary. It is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for reporting sexual harassment, so it is beneficial to report before your employer takes an adverse employment action against you.
In some cases, there are rules about having to let your employer know about what happened, so the employer has a chance to fix it. If you don’t, it can hurt your legal case. If you have legal questions, such as whether declining to report will hurt your case, you can reach out to Rights of Women, a grantee of the TIME’S UP UK Justice and Equality Fund. If your situation involves workplace sexual harassment, Rights of Women will provide you with free legal advice and guidance. Disadvantages of reporting to your employer You may receive an unsympathetic response from the person to whom you report. Some employees are trained to remain neutral when receiving reports of workplace misconduct.
Your Right to Report Sexual Misconduct and Harassment 18