Supporting Resources, and Anonymity, for California Workers

Because experiencing sexual harassment or a sexual assault can be traumatic, it’s important for workers to know about available resources to support persons affected by sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace.

Supporting resources can include:

Resources Outside an Employer/Company

Sexual Assault and/or Sexual Harassment Helplines, local or national. Usually these resources are 24/7.

For example, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at (800) 799-7233 or http://www.thehotline.org/;
the National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) at (800) 656-HOPE (4673) or https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline
Or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888 or https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

Any other private or public sexual violence associations and organizations, as well as legal resources, may also be of good support to persons affected by sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace.

Listening in the workplace

Employer/Company-Specific Resources

Companies can also provide (or contract with providers) to provide supportive resources for their workers:

Any Employee Assistance Program offered by the company
A Workplace Violence Program Manager, if one exists. Often this individual is a professional victim advocate specially trained in these matters.
Victim Advocate Liaisons, if this network exists (usually in larger organizations). These are usually trained full-time employees who volunteer for this role in a service capacity. While typically not counselors or therapists, these liaisons often operate under the direction of a Workplace Violence Program Manager.

Support With Anonymity

Because there is no effective expectation of anonymity after reporting in the workplace, if a worker wants to discuss a sexual harassment incident while remaining anonymous, it is usually safer to have it take place outside the workplace, and with people who don’t have any association with the employer.

Usually, supportive listening can be available anonymously through a Sexual Assault / Sexual Harassment hotline, such as the ones listed above. Public or private sexual violence association or organization hotlines may also be used.

And what if someone wanted to discuss an incident without triggering an investigation? For example, if regarding an incident that took place outside the workplace, or while considering or preparing to make a report of a workplace incident? So long as there is no immediate danger to life and safety, anonymous support from distanced resources is appropriate. For the caller’s comfort, however, it’s a good idea to ask and confirm anonymity/no investigation before giving any incident details.

Ready to move forward in the course?

First, tap or click the check mark button in the center windowsill.

Next, tap or click the Next Lesson right arrow in the right windowsill.

Arrow pointing to the check mark button in the bottom center of the right hand pane's frame or windowsill.

then, click or tap the right arrow Next button on the right side of the windowsill

Ready to move forward in the course?

First, tap or click the check mark button in the center windowsill.

Next, tap or click the Next Lesson right arrow in the right windowsill.

Arrow images pointing out the check mark button in the bottom center of the right reading pane's lower frame or windowsill, which should be marked first, then second to tap or click the Next Lesson button in the right windowsill.