A Co-Worker Sent Me an Inappropriate Message: What Should I Do?
Our legal team has helped many people who’ve experienced sexual harassment in a Dallas-Fort Worth workplace. If you’re based in Dallas, Allen, Plano, Arlington, or Frisco, TX, you can turn to our law firm for help.
As texts and messaging apps like Slack have become essential for many white-collar workplaces, we’ve noticed an uptick in questions about inappropriate messages from co-workers. Let’s consider a few things you should think about and some actions you can take if you do receive an inappropriate message from someone you work with.
Consider the Nature of the Message You Received
Did you receive a distasteful joke? Was it toxic gossip about a co-worker? Did you receive a link to something not safe for work or an explicit photo?
While inappropriate messages are never excusable, some types of messages (such as anything flirtatious, racially insensitive, or sexually explicit) are blatant examples of sexual harassment.
Consider Your Past Interactions With the Co-Worker
If the message was not explicit in any way and you’re on good terms with the co-worker, you may be able to discuss what happened privately without involving your boss or supervisor. This should only be done if you and your co-worker are otherwise respectful to one another and no lines of misconduct have been crossed.
If there is a power differential or you do not feel comfortable interacting with this co-worker, it’s best to involve another party. The third party can assess what happened and confront your co-worker about this behavior on your behalf.
Different Actions You Can Take
Here are a few different actions you can take depending on the situation and your work environment.
1. Set a Boundary With Your Co-Worker If You Are Able to Do So
If the message is not explicit and you are comfortable with your co-worker, be sure to set a boundary. Note what you found inappropriate and ask that they not send you any messages like that in the future.
2. Report the Inappropriate Message to a Boss or Supervisor
For explicit photos, unwanted comments, and other serious kinds of behavior, be sure to report what happened to your supervisor and/or the co-worker’s supervisor.
3. Report the Inappropriate Message to an HR Representative
You can also report the incident to the human resources representative at your job. They should be able to deal with the situation appropriately.
4. File a Formal Sexual Harassment Complaint
If your company does not handle the matter internally or ignores your complaint, you should file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). You can also file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
This is a good way to hold hostile workplaces and toxic company cultures accountable.
5. Speak With an Employment Lawyer About What Happened
Our employment law office serving Dallas-Fort Worth can help you file a lawsuit against your employer if they permitted sexual harassment or encouraged this kind of misconduct.
Remember: Sexual Harassment Isn’t Always Obvious
Even an innocuous message could be part of a pattern of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior.
We encourage you to review this previous post on actions that could be a form of sexual harassment. This could paint a number of office and remote workplace interactions in a different light.
Contact a Dallas-Fort Worth Sexual Harassment Attorney
If you need to speak with a legal professional about a co-worker’s inappropriate messages, contact our North Texas employment law office. Our team is ready to listen and provide help.
