If you’re facing sexual harassment in the workplace, it can be highly detrimental to your career and your mental and emotional state. It feels unfair that you have to deal with this type of hostile workplace environment, and you may decide to speak up and put an end to it.
Unfortunately, when you do, you may find that people are quick to make excuses for their behavior. They may act as if you’re overreacting or they could gaslight you and make you think you’re looking at the situation in the wrong light. This can be even more frustrating because you feel like you’re not making any headway to really fix the issue.
What are the top excuses?
It’s important to understand what excuses people may make so that you can be ready for them — and so that you can easily see them for what they really are. Here are a few of the most common ones:
- They were just trying to pay you a compliment, but you took it the wrong way.
- They were just telling a joke and you don’t have the right sense of humor.
- They’re just a touchy-feely person and they meant nothing by it.
- You’re remembering the event incorrectly and it didn’t happen how you said.
- They thought you were giving them signals with the way you act or dress.
Much of the time, these are just thin excuses made up by people who know full well that what they did was a violation of your rights as an employee. Make sure you are well aware of all of the legal options that you have when facing this type of harassment.
