How Long Does an Employee Have to File a Sexual Harassment Complaint at the CHRO?

Sexual harassment is a violation of employment rights and characterized by unwarranted comments or behavior against someone’s gender or sexual orientation. It is a form of discrimination that violates protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Employees and managers at any position, whether working full-time or hourly, should be aware of sexually offensive acts and know what to do when they become a victim or have witnessed sexual harassment in the workplace.

In this article, we will provide you with helpful pointers for when you file a sexual harassment complaint with the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of your company. We will also introduce you to a safer and easier way to file employee complaints using the DoNotPay app!

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Harmless Banter or Harassment?

How do you draw the line between innocent teasing and sexual harassment? Differentiating between the two can be challenging. The bottom line is, any sexually charged conduct or comment that adversely affects employee productivity or makes you uncomfortable in any way is considered sexual harassment. Here is a table that serves as a general guideline:

Filing a Sexual Harassment Complaint: Timeline

When you witness or experience sexual harassment, don’t wait too long before you act or spend time overthinking whether you were just being too sensitive. This is because there are statutory limits on filing sexual harassment complaints with your company’s CHRO and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Here are some statistics that you need to take note of:

• 180 days – the deadline of filing a state and federal complaint with EEOC
• 240 days – the deadline of filing a sexual harassment report with the EEOC
• 15 or more – minimum number of employees for your company to be liable for discrimination
• Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina – the five states that don’t have state agencies for anti-discrimination claims

How to File a Sexual Harassment Complaint

Most state laws protect employees from sexual harassment while at work. Additionally, most states also enforce fair employment practices that prohibit sexual harassment. If you are being sexually harassed at work, here is a general guideline you can follow to protect yourself:

1. Confront the harasser – Although it can be awkward and challenging, clearly telling the harasser to stop makes it known that you do not tolerate such behavior. If you do not believe a face-to-face confrontation is safe, you can write a letter instead. Make sure to keep a copy with you for future reference.
2. Report to the manager – If the confrontation does not resolve the harassment, escalate the complaint to a supervisor or your company’s human resources department. Do not skip this step because the company may not be held liable when you decide to pursue a lawsuit. For you to win a legal case, you need HR reports to serve as proof that the company was made aware of the sexual harassment you faced.
3. Document everything – Collect detailed evidence about the harassment. Keep a journal of events including names, dates, and places. Keep a copy of your performance report that will serve as proof later on that your productivity at work was affected.
4. Escalate to the EEOC – If complaining to your boss or the HR department doesn’t resolve the situation, it’s time to go to your state’s fair employment office or straight to EEOC.

Employer Responsibilities When Addressing Sexual Harassment Complaints

Employers must provide a safe and discrimination-free workplace for their employees. Employers should be aware of employment laws, enforce policies, and take employee complaints seriously. If you are an employer, here are your responsibilities when addressing allegations of sexual harassment:

• Understand state and federal laws regarding harassment and discrimination
• Write a company policy prohibiting discrimination and include it in the employee handbook
• Establish clear-cut procedures for reporting with the HR department
• Hold managers accountable if their behavior is being complained about
• Investigate employee complaints about sexual harassment and take action immediately

As an employee, you also have an obligation to report and file complaints when you witness sexual harassment in the workplace. However, this is easier said than done. Filing a complaint can sometimes result in awkward situations in the workplace or worse, retaliation. To protect yourself, file a complaint anonymously with DoNotPay instead!

How to File an Anonymous HR Complaint With DoNotPay

DoNotPay is your lawyer in an app! With the Anonymous HR Complaints service, you can file a complaint safely and easily without having to reveal your personal details! All you have to do is:

1. Log in to DoNotPay and open the Anonymous HR Complaint product.

2. Enter your employer’s name and HR department’s mailing address.

3. Describe the issues you're experiencing and how you want them to be addressed

4. DoNotPay will automatically mail the report anonymously on your behalf.

That’s it! Once you’re done, we’ll take care of the rest. Your complaint will be mailed directly to your company’s HR department and your identity will remain confidential.

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