The Pros and Cons of Reporting Harassment to HR
Before you consider making a complaint to your human resource representative, ask yourself:
- What outcome do I want?
- Is my HR department able to help me achieve that outcome?
Some examples are:
- Stop the harassment/discrimination
- Put it on the record
- Get your harasser removed from your department, reporting structure or the company
Pros for Reporting to HR
- Hands the issue over to a third party to help resolve the problem
- Puts the harassment/discrimination on the record
- Potential to hold the harasser accountable for their actions
- Potential to prevent future harassment and discrimination
- Makes the company accountable to investigate and resolve the issue
- Makes the company accountable for any harassment/discrimination after you report
Cons for reporting to HR
- You give up control to a third party and their process
- HR’s priority and process is to protect the company’s interest first
- Potential for retaliation from the company, including loss of promotions, opportunities, and/or job
- Potential for retaliation from coworkers, including gossip and distrust for “snitching”
- You may be perceived as disloyal to the company
- Your work history will be included in the investigation, even if it is not relevant to your complaint
- Your complaint may not remain confidential during the investigation
Get the Latest Buzz
Subscribe to our regular newsletter for the latest news and actions. Your info and time is safe with us!
The Latest News
- March 2024 – Newsletter
Reading Time: 2 minutes Latest News from the Wolf and The Bee: including our latest media coverage, hitting an impact milestone, a logo glow-up, and new shop items to help you represent! - Press Coverage: Axios Chicago
Reading Time: < 1 minute Axios Chicago Coverage: A Chicago nonprofit is offering a novel service to address workplace harassment: sending cautionary emails to alleged harassers on behalf of unnamed accusers. - Voyage Utah Interview
Reading Time: 3 minutes Voyage Utah: Inspiring Conversations with Sandy Lisonbee of The Wolf and The Bee “Discrimination, bullying, and harassment should not be a condition of work. We want to empower each person to make the best decision for where they are in their professional lives and account for their circumstances. “ - Feb-2024 News Release
Reading Time: 2 minutes NEWS RELEASE: Sexual Harassment ‘Perpetrator’ Targeted by Chicago-Based Non-Profit. Harassment Resource Organization Launches Innovative Program - August-2023 Newsletter
Reading Time: < 1 minute Latest News from the Wolf and The Bee: including update on our first annual networking event and fundraiser.
The Latest Blog
- Silent Sisterhood Survey
Reading Time: < 1 minute Silent Sisterhood is conducting an an important study on gender discrimination and we need your voice, experience and insights.