When we are at work, we are in a professional environment. We expect that our coworkers will treat us with the same respect as we treat them. However, this is not always the case, and, unfortunately, issues regarding factors surrounding race, gender, sex or disability frequently arise in the workplace. Many of these issues and incidents can constitute sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment is an incident or a set of incidents in the workplace where inappropriate behavior was displayed and a hostile environment was created as a result. Workplace harassment could be experienced in a number of ways and has the potential to cause a wide range of stressors to the victim.
Anxiety as a consequence of workplace harassment
If you were put in a very uncomfortable situation at work, for example, if you were made to feel intimidated or undervalued because of your disability, or you were made to feel objectified sexually by a coworker, it can have the power to affect you on a deep level. This is because we all have set expectations and standards of how we should be treated in the workplace, and this type of behavior is not acceptable.
You may start to fear going to the office, being in the office or interacting with certain people in the office as a result of your experience. This can be a very stressful situation, and one that can very easily cause stress and anxiety disorders.
What can be done about the emotional consequences of workplace harassment?
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that is in place for almost any employee who becomes injured at work. If you suffer emotionally because of an incident at work, this can be classified as a workplace injury. You are entitled to compensation for any necessary medical costs, such as therapy or medication, and you may be entitled to a reimbursement of a proportion of lost wages from unpaid sick leave days you took.
If you are a victim of workplace harassment in New York, it is important to take action as quickly as possible to get the compensation you deserve.