According to a recent study, sexual harassment is on the rise in India as more women enter the workforce. The survey reported that of the 600 women surveyed, 88 percent said that they had experienced some form of sexual harassment at work. While this study focused on women in India, there's no doubt that many women and men in the United States experience sexual harassment at work.

Sexual harassment in the workplace is prohibited. While claims against an employer who allows the harassment to continue can be complicated, there are certain steps that an employee should take if he or she experiences sexual harassment, regardless of whether it is verbal or physical.

  • Avoid one-on-one situations with the colleague: An employee who has experienced sexual harassment in the workplace should avoid situations where the victim and the harasser are alone. Witnesses to the sexual harassment can help to bolster an allegation of harassment.
  • Express disapproval of the actions: A victim of sexual harassment should, if possible, express displeasure at the onset of either verbal or physical sexual harassment.
  • Report the incident: It is important to report the incident to a manager as soon as possible. If the employee's supervisor is the perpetrator of the sexual harassment, the employee should seek out another member of management to report the abuse.
  • Record any instances of sexual harassment: The employee should maintain careful records of the sexual harassment, witnesses to the harassment and the actions taken by management in response to the report of sexual harassment.
  • Consult with a sexual harassment lawyer or confidant: If the sexual harassment is on-going or the employee's company fails to take action to remedy the harassment or hostile environment, it is often best to talk to a knowledgeable employment attorney who can consult the employee on his or her legal options.

For many men and women who are victims of sexual harassment in the workplace, reporting the harassment can be frightening. Valid concerns that can prevent a person from reporting the incident include the fear of losing one's job and fear over employer retaliation; however, the reality is that the law prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace and an employee's job is protected from wrongful termination.

Source: Wall Street Journal (online), "Career Journal: How to Deal with Sexual Harassment at Work," January 28, 2011