What is workplace sexual harassment?
This article describes what workplace sexual harassment is and who tends to get harassed the most, and gives some common examples of what it tends to look like.
3-minute read
For people who’ve been sexually harassed at work.
Understanding
How can you tell if what you are experiencing is sexual harassment?
It can sometimes be hard to tell if what you’re experiencing is actually harassment. In this article, we’ll describe four scenarios that often leave people confused, and describe how to...
How does the law in Canada determine if I've been harassed?
In this article, we’ll describe the tests that judges in Canada tend to use to determine whether someone has been sexually harassed.
How does sexual harassment affect people's mental health?
In this article, we describe how the experience of being harassed tends to affect people’s mental health. The choices you can make about how to handle harassment—like staying at work,...
How can sexual harassment affect my career?
Researchers have been studying sexual harassment for decades, and have found that being sexually harassed can really hurt people’s careers. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but it’s common enough that...
9-minute read
How sexual harassment can hurt you financially
When we think about sexual harassment, we don’t usually think about it as a financial problem. But the truth is sexual harassment can really hurt you financially. In this article,...
6-minute read
You’re being sexually harassed at work. What are your options?
When you’re being sexually harassed at work, it can be hard to know what to do, or even what all the possibilities are. In this article, we’ll describe your three...
What harassment looks like for people who are trans, nonbinary, or gender-queer, and how to protect yourself
For people who are trans, nonbinary, or gender-queer, being treated badly because of your gender can be an everyday reality. You probably know people—maybe including yourself—who've had to put up...
What harassment looks like for people in the personal care industry, and how you can protect yourself
What is the personal care industry and why are people in it more likely to be harassed? The personal care industry provides services for individual people, often in their homes...
What harassment looks like for people in the gig economy, and how you can protect yourself
First, let's define gig work. Gig work is short-term, freelance, or contract-based work in which you get paid per task, project, or service, instead of getting a steady wage or...
What the research says about workplace sexual harassment
Here’s a list of research papers and articles we used in making this site. If you have a paper you want to tell us about, please email it to [email protected]....
27-minute read
How to help someone else
If you’re reading this, chances are that someone in your life recently told you they had experienced sexual harassment at work. It can be upsetting to learn about this and...
5-minute read
The 21 most important things we learned
Here are the 21 most important things we learned. 1. Workplace sexual harassment is extremely common. It’s hard to know exactly how many people get harassed at work, because sexual...
7-minute read
The Financial Effects of Gender-Based Workplace Harassment
Aftermetoo’s vision is a world in which everyone can thrive, unimpeded by gender-based harassment at work. That's not the world we live in. Gender-based workplace harassment (GBWH) does not only...
Protecting Yourself
How (and why) to document everything
Experts say that when you’re being harassed, one of the first things you should do is take some time to document everything that’s happening. In this article we’ll explain how...
4-minute read
How (and why) to assess your situation
Experts say that when you’re being harassed, one of the first things you should do is take some time to assess your situation. In this article we’ll explain how to...
5-minute read
How (and why) to build a support network
Experts say that when you’re being harassed, one of the first things you should do is take some time to invest in building yourself a really great support network. Here,...
3-minute read
Getting punished for complaining and how to protect yourself
Getting punished for complaining about sexual harassment? Worried you will be? This article’s for you. Here, we’ll describe how to tell if you’re being punished, and what you can do...
How to protect your career
In this article, we’ll tell you how to stay centred on your career goals, and how to protect your career if you’ve reported harassment, if you’ve decided to stay at...
6-minute read
How to protect yourself financially
Sexual harassment can really hurt you financially. Whether you plan to stay at work and try to cope, formally report the harassment, or quit your job -- in this article...
5-minute read
How to make a safety plan to keep yourself safe at work
If you’re unfeeling unsafe at work due to sexual harassment, this article is for you. Here, we’ll describe how to build a safety plan to keep yourself safe at work...
4-minute read
How to get paid time off because you’re being sexually harassed
It’s not uncommon for people to end up taking time off work after being sexually harassed. You might just want some time to think. Or, if the harassment has been...
How whisper networks can help keep you safe at work
Whisper networks can help keep you safe at work. Here, we’ll tell you what a whisper network is and how they work, what their main drawbacks are, and how you...
6-minute read
The secret your employer doesn't want you to know
In this article, we’ll tell you what demand letters are, and explain why they can be a cheap, easy way to persuade your employer to give you money. We’ll break...
8-minute read
Coping and Healing
Why we blame ourselves and what can help
After being sexually harassed, it’s really common for people to blame themselves. For some people, in some circumstances, it can take years to stop doing that and to put the...
6-minute read
How to make sense of what happened to you: Understanding the trauma of sexual harassment
When we’re sexually harassed, our bodies and brains can react in ways we don’t expect—and sometimes we end up regretting our response, or judging ourselves for it. In this article,...
Anger: Why we feel it and what can help
It’s really common to feel angry after being sexually harassed. In this article we’ll explore why we feel that way, and what can help us feel better.
5-minute read
Depression and sadness: Why we feel them and what can help
Maybe you were depressed or sad before you got harassed. Or maybe feelings of depression, numbness, hopelessness, and sadness are new to you. In this article, we’ll explore why we...
Fear, worry, and anxiety: Why we feel them and what can help
It’s very common for people who’ve been sexually harassed, or are being harassed, to feel fear, worry, and anxiety. In this article, we’ll describe why we feel that way, and...
Grief and loss: Why we feel them and what can help
In this article, we’ll describe why we may feel grief and loss when we’re sexually harassed, and what can help us to feel better.
6-minute read
Shock, confusion, and disbelief: Why we feel them and what can help
It’s really common for people to react to being sexually harassed by feeling some combination of shock, confusion, and disbelief. In this article, we’ll describe why people react that way,...
20 ways to take care of your mental health
20 ways to take care of your mental health
8-minute read
Big Changes
How to decide whether to change your career to get away from harassment—and how to make that work
There are some industries and types of work where harassment is really, really common. It’s not unusual for people to get into that kind of work, get harassed a lot,...
How to decide whether to quit your job—and how to make that work
If you’re being sexually harassed at work, you might be considering quitting your job. For some people, it’s an easy decision. But if you like your job or need the...
How to navigate a world that's not just
Workplace sexual harassment is a form of betrayal. In this article, we’ll explain what betrayal is, and how and why it happens, how we may react to it, and how...
8-minute read
Taking Action
How can I talk with my employer to get them to stop the harassment?
Sometimes people want to talk with their employer informally, but don’t want to trigger a formal HR investigation. In this article, we give some scripts for how to do that.
How can I talk with the harasser to get them to stop?
In this article, we describe how to approach having a conversation with the person who’s harassing you, and give some sample scripts for how to do it.
2-minute read
You’re being sexually harassed at work. Should you report?
When people get sexually harassed, they're often unsure about whether to report it to their employer. In this article, we'll describe what’s supposed to happen when people report sexual harassment,...
How to decide whether to take legal action (and what to expect if you do)
Maybe you’re considering taking legal action against the harasser or your employer. If so, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll explain the pros and cons of taking...
How to find and work with a lawyer
You’re considering hiring a lawyer. In this article we’ll explain how to find and choose a lawyer, what lawyers can and cannot do for you, how they normally structure their...
9-minute read
How to decide whether to go public, and how to protect yourself if you do
If you’re reading this, you’re probably trying to decide whether to go public about being sexually harassed. You’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll tell you who goes...
Who blows the whistle on sexual harassment, and what happens to them afterward
Very few people blow the whistle on sexual harassment. So what is special, or different, about the people who do? That’s the topic of this article. In this article, we’ll...
Working with your union
Unions have an important role to play in helping to make sure the workplace is safe. Unfortunately, when it comes to keeping people safe from harassment, unions have a mixed...
11-minute read
How to decide whether to go to the police
Most sexual harassment doesn’t break any criminal laws. But some does. If someone has sexual contact with you without your consent, that can be sexual assault, and it’s a criminal...
8-minute read
Federal
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. This guide explains how the commission process works, and the pros and cons of...
9-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the Canada...
12-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
In this article, we’ll explain how workers comp works for you if you’re a federally regulated worker.
1-minute read
Alberta
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission. This guide explains how the commission and tribunal process works, and the pros and...
9-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the law,...
12-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with the Workers’ Compensation Board because you want to be compensated for harms you suffered due to harassment in your...
6-minute read
British Columbia
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a complaint with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal. This guide explains how the tribunal process works, and the pros and cons...
10-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the law,...
12-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with WorkSafeBC because you want to be compensated for harms you suffered due to harassment in your workplace. This guide...
6-minute read
Manitoba
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you’re reading this, you’re probably considering filing a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. This article explains how the commission process works, and the pros and cons of...
8-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the law,...
11-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba because you want to be compensated for harms you suffered due to harassment....
6-minute read
New Brunswick
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
Important This is not legal advice! What you are getting here is just general legal information. It is not a substitute for advice from an actual lawyer about your specific...
8-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the OHSA,...
10-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering a workers’ compensation claim with WorkSafeNB because you want to be compensated for harms you suffered due to harassment. This guide explains how...
2-minute read
Newfoundland and Labrador
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a complaint with the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission. This guide explains how the process works, and the pros and cons...
7-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the OHSA,...
11-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with WorkplaceNL because you want to be compensated for harms you suffered due to harassment. This guide explains how to...
2-minute read
Northwest Territories
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a complaint with the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission. This guide explains how the process works, and the pros and cons of...
7-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What are the laws...
11-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission because you want to be compensated for harms you suffered due to harassment....
5-minute read
Nova Scotia
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you’re reading this, you’re probably considering filing a complaint with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. This article explains how the process works, and the pros and cons of...
7-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the Human...
11-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with the Workers’ Compensation Board because you want compensation for harms you suffered due to harassment. This guide explains how...
5-minute read
Nunavut
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a complaint with the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal. This guide explains how the process works, and the pros and cons of this...
6-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the law,...
10-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission because you want to be compensated for harms you suffered due to harassment....
5-minute read
Ontario
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you’re reading this, you’re probably considering filing a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. This article explains how the tribunal process works, and the pros and cons...
11-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the OHSA,...
12-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you’re reading this, you’re probably considering filing a claim with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board remove link. This guide explains how to file a WSIB claim related to...
7-minute read
Prince Edward Island
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a complaint with the PEI Human Rights Commission. This guide explains how the commission process works, and the pros and cons of...
7-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the law,...
11-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with the Workers Compensation Board of P.E.I. because you want to be compensated for harms you suffered due to harassment....
4-minute read
Quebec
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a complaint with the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ). This guide explains how the...
7-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the law,...
11-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with the Occupational Health and Safety division of the CNESST (Labour Standards, Pay Equity and Workplace Health and Safety Board)...
3-minute read
Saskatchewan
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. This guide explains how the process works, and the pros and cons of this...
8-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What is the law,...
11-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board because you want to be compensated for harms you suffered due to harassment. This...
2-minute read
Yukon
How to decide whether to file a human rights complaint
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a complaint with the Yukon Human Rights Commission. This guide explains how the process works, and the pros and cons of this...
7-minute read
How to report sexual harassment to your employer
If you’ve decided to report sexual harassment to your employer, this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know. We’ll start with some background. What are the laws,...
12-minute read
Should you apply for workers comp?
If you're reading this, you're probably considering filing a claim with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board because you want to be compensated for harms you suffered due to sexual...
2-minute read
