● Complainant requests IDHR to file a complaint with the HRC : In this case, IDHR offers the parties the opportunity to settle through conciliation with a staff attorney or mediator (non-housing cases). If a settlement agreement is not reached, IDHR will file a complaint of civil rights violation with the HRC on behalf of the complainant. ● Legal representation: Both parties must obtain legal representation to present or defend the case properly before the administrative law judge. Suppose
the administrative law judge recommends a finding that the respondent has discriminated against the complainant. In that case, the administrative law judge can recommend necessary remedies to make the complainant “whole,” placing the complainant in a position as if the discrimination had not occurred. A three-member panel of the HRC can review the recommendation of the administrative law judge. If the case goes to a public hearing, the entire process could take several years.
THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Sexual harassment has many physical and psychological impacts on the victim. The following scenario and section Scenario 5 Nancy is a social work manager who recently filed a sexual harassment claim with IDHR, citing the hospital’s chief operating officer (COO) as the harasser. The results of the ensuing investigation showed substantial evidence to indicate that sexual harassment had occurred. A complaint on her behalf was filed with the HRC. A financial settlement was reached, and the COO was terminated. Even though the investigative results supported her claim
describe the effects sexual harassment can have on an individual’s health.
and she received compensation, Nancy cannot, as she put it, return to normal. She is having nightmares about the circumstances of the sexual harassment and is showing signs of depression. Her blood pressure is elevated, and she is experiencing ongoing gastrointestinal issues. Nancy is suffering from the physical and psychological effects of dealing with sexual harassment. came forward years after the harassment took place. There are several reasons for these issues (Cortina & Areguin, 2021; Patrick, 2017): ● Fear of blame, disbelief, retaliation, and/or damage to career or reputation. ● Feelings of shame, embarrassment, or guilt (“Did I do something to ‘cause’ the harassment?”). ● Loss of job or loss of possible promotions. ● Conflicting emotions if the harasser was viewed as a friend or mentor until the sexual harassment occurred. ● Loss of agency in the reporting process. ● Fear/experience of reporting and investigation process (reliving, recounting potentially traumatizing experiences). In addition to the physical and emotional impact of sexual harassment, there is often a financial toll. Physical and emotional effects (physical illness, depression) may lead to absenteeism and negatively impact job performance and career progression (Cortina & Areguin, 2021). Some people leave their jobs (even jobs they love) to escape their harassers. Patrick (2017) pointed out, “Sexual harassment victims don’t quit jobs; they quit bosses.” Even if their immediate supervisors are not the harassers, victims may view the workplace as toxic and cite a lack of support from their employing organization. digestion slows, sweating increases, and all the senses become more acute. Energy levels increase, muscle tension increases, and bronchi dilate, facilitating air entry into the lungs (Harvard Health, 2020). All people experience stress at one time or another. The body responds to stress is the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), which has three phases (Harvard Health, 2020): 1. Alarm: Alarm is the flight-or-fight response. The autonomic nervous system is activated, and there is an adrenaline surge. All body systems rally, and the body increases the energy needed to either flee from the stressor or confront it. 2. Resistance: The body works to regain homeostasis during the resistance. Coping and adaptation take place. Because the body cannot maintain the high energy
Physical and psychological effects of dealing with sexual harassment Some of the most influential businesspeople, celebrities, and religious figures have been charged with sexual harassment. The media focus on high-profile firings and criminal trials that have taken place as a result of sexual harassment complaints. However, there has been relatively little focus on the emotional and physical impact of having been sexually harassed.
People who have been (or are being) sexually harassed frequently experience mental health problems that can negatively impact their physical health. These issues do not cease with the successful conclusion (for the complainant) of a sexual harassment complaint. The effects of dealing with the harassment and filing a complaint can be long term (Cortina & Areguin, 2021; Patrick, 2017). Compounding the impact of sexual harassment is the fact that it is significantly underreported. Many victims of such harassment suffer in silence, and some continue to work in a toxic environment that allows harassment to exist and, in some cases, to flourish (Cortina & Areguin, 2021). The people reporting sexual harassment may often become stigmatized at work, especially if the charged harasser is popular or particularly valued by the organization. This stigma contributes to the mental health consequences faced by the reporting individual. Victims of sexual harassment are often bombarded with questions about why they did not come forward or why they Physical symptoms related to stress When faced with threatening circumstances, the body responds with a complex physiological reaction. When confronted by such circumstances, the hypothalamus releases a chemical messenger into the bloodstream that travels directly to the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland responds to this messenger by producing adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH travels through the bloodstream until it reaches the adrenal glands. ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce corticoids, which work to release the body’s stored energy (Harvard Health, 2020). The hypothalamus also stimulates the medulla of the adrenal gland to produce epinephrine. Epinephrine produces rapid, short-term high energy levels to deal with the stressor. Heart rate and blood pressure are elevated,
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Book Code: MIL1224
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