HOW TO DOCUMENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The reason you should document sexual harassment is straightforward: whether you’re the target of it or someone who saw it happen, a log of the details is important. So, without further ado, here’s a breakdown : what to make note of, where you should store notes, who you should reach out to for additional information, when you should bring it to the relevant authorities, when documenting harassment.
What does it mean to document?
Documenting harassment means taking notes of what happened, and keeping records of any written or electronic communication that’s part of the harassment. This could mean text messages, emails, or social media posts from the victim, harasser, a witness, or someone else involved. Write it down, screenshot it, print it out, or do whatever else you can to help yourself keep track.
What information do I need to include?
When documenting harassment, the main questions to answer are: who, what, when, and where. Try to be as specific as possible. Try to note exactly where and when the incident took place.
When recording who was involved, don’t just include the victim and harasser. Also note anyone else who saw the harassment, as well as anyone you talked to about it.
It’s a good idea to keep track of anything to show that the victim or a witness discussed the harassment after it happened. This could mean noting that the subject of the harassment came up during a conversation, or it could mean holding onto emails or texts with a friend or a bystander.
What if I don’t remember some of the details?
Ideally, you should write everything down as soon as possible, so the information is fresh in your mind, but even if you don’t have a specific time, that definitely doesn’t mean that there’s no helpful information that the employee may be able to recall and record.
If you know that something happened at 2:30 p.m., on a specific date, mark it down; if not, rely on context to help you get as close as possible. You could say it happened a few days after the holiday party, for instance, or it was during your child’s spring break. Any information can help investigators narrow down when and where to look. The same goes for describing the harasser; if you don’t know a person’s name, you could still note that it was the person behind a cash register towards the left side of the store, or the manager with long hair who was working during a lunchtime shift.
Where should I keep my notes?
Keep a single notebook or electronic document where you write down new information after each incident. If you’re worried about an employer or someone else finding your documentation, a handwritten notebook that you can lock away in a purse, briefcase, or desk drawer could be helpful.
What if I forgot to record something?
Having evidence to back up your words is helpful, but if you haven’t been taking notes the whole time of the incident, or incidents, that shouldn’t be a deterrent from speaking up. It can’t be emphasized strongly enough: Don’t let not having complete records stop you from reporting.
Even if you have everything written down, you’re not required to bring the information to anyone, immediately. If you’re the victim, you might want to wait until you feel thoroughly prepared, emotionally, or otherwise; if you’re a witness, you may want to get the victim’s go-ahead, or coordinate with other bystanders first. Whatever your situation, there’s no expiration date on the information you’ve assembled.
