A Step-By-Step Guide for Victims of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

The step-by-step guide for victims of sexual harassment in the workplace in Ireland contains all necessary and relevant information for employees to ensure that their right not to be sexually harassed in the workplace is vindicated by their employer, and for employers to ensure that they are satisfying their legal obligation to protect all employees from sexual harassment by ensuring that the workplace is a safe environment.

The guide is divided into three parts. If you think you have been subjected to sexual harassment, the first part will explain what your rights are as an employee. The second part will help you to decide on your next course of action in a step-by-step manner. The third part is an appendix of helpful sources of advice and emotional support.

In short, every employer in Ireland is responsible for any sexual harassment that an employee is subjected to. Thus, every employer is obliged by law to have policies, procedures and training in place which are expressly dedicated to protecting employees from sexual harassment in the workplace. If an employer fails in any of these obligations and a complaint of sexual harassment is not dealt with properly or taken seriously, a complaint can be made to a public body named the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), which will deal with the complaint independently of the company or organization. This is a civil procedure which is free of charge and is completely independent of the criminal justice system.

This guide expands on the above information in a way that is detailed and easy to understand and which is based on thorough research of Irish law. It includes all information necessary for readers to understand sexual harassment in the workplace under Irish law, for employer's to understand their obligations and how to protect their employees, and for complainants to hold their employer(s) accountable if they are or have been subjected to it.