When we talk about sexual harassment and workplace discrimination, much of the focus is on recovering compensation that’s owed due to lost wages and damaged earnings capacity. While the financial harm caused by workplace discrimination and sexual harassment can be extensive, the true damage that’s unfairly thrust upon victims can be more wide ranging than that. We want to take some time in this post to look at how workplace discrimination and sexual harassment can impact your life, that way you have a better idea of how to get a handle on the outcomes that have fallen on you.
The true impact of workplace discrimination and sexual harassment
The harm caused by workplace discrimination and sexual harassment can be severe. Sure, your finances are bound to take a hit, but there are other aspects of your life that can be damaged. That said, here are some of the ripple effects that can be caused by workplace discrimination and sexual harassment:
- The onset of anxiety and depression: A lot of workers who are negatively impacted by workplace discrimination and sexual harassment develop anxiety and depression. They oftentimes become fearful of the future and their career prospects, and they might become depressed, thinking that they should’ve done more to prevent the situation from arising to begin with. Together, these conditions can make it hard to get back on your feet to fight for fairness and reclaim your life.
- The development of post-traumatic stress disorder: Some instances of workplace discrimination and sexual harassment are so severe that they result in post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition can affect everything from your concentration to your sleep patterns and your personality. You might find yourself more irritable if you suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, too. Any of these characteristics can make it hard to return to the workforce in a meaningful way without effective medical care.
- A damaged reputation: Even if you’re able to clear your name in your discrimination or harassment case, your employer may already have caused irreparable damage to your reputation by smearing your name when they painted you as a bad employee. This is a common defense, so this issue comes up in most cases. Your employer’s defense strategy can impact your ability to find the employment that you want and advance as you hope.
- Lost earnings capacity: The discrimination or harassment to which you’ve been subjected might’ve stymied your career more than you expected. In fact, the time that it takes for you to resolve your case and get back to your job could put you more behind in your career advancement than you anticipated. This can cost you income, benefits and prestige to which you’re otherwise entitled.
- Lost time: The adverse employment actions against you will take time to resolve, especially if you have to resort to legal action to correct the issue. The time you lose to build your career and generate wealth can put you further behind in life than you’d like. This, in turn, can create stress and anxiety about your future.
Hold your employer accountable for the full extent of harm they’ve caused to you
As you can see, the damage caused by workplace discrimination and sexual harassment can be broad and severe. Fortunately, you might be able to find accountability and recoup compensation that helps you effectively offset those damages. But successfully doing so will require strong legal advocacy on your part, which is why now is the time to start thinking about the best way to build your case.