I’ve worked in my current place for 3 years. In my previous much smaller company, I wore whatever I liked, and felt that the lorry drivers I worked with treated me mostly with the respect I deserved. When I moved to what I felt was a far more progressive company, I got a shock, and men would openly stare, or talk to my boobs/legs as I talked. I started to modify what I wore, and although I still take pride in dressing well, gone are the above knee skirts and shirts are carefully pinned to avoid any cleavage etc.
At a company bbq, a much older very senior male employee was putting his arm around me, stroked my arm, his face close to mine as he talked to me and as I tried to move away, he moved closer. A male colleague saw, and said to a more senior manager - ‘is that ok, what’s going on there?’. More senior manager seemed uninterested, I was later told. Male colleague walked over and made an excuse for me to get away, and told me to report it.
The trouble is, I did, and my HR department were derisive, insinuating I was making a mountain out of a molehill. The male colleague went to add his account, and suddenly HR were very interested. Inappropriate sexual behaviour was added to our ‘diversity’ training.
I felt that things had improved, until this week. I’m not sure why today, but I had three separate occurrences of men making actual comments. My reaction was to pretend I hadn’t heard. And honestly, I am completely sick of it, but I don’t want to have to report it again. It’s embarrassing. They’re all much older, they’re all senior. They’ll probably know it was me who reported them, and it might affect the work they do with me.
The ‘diversity’ training said to report it.
I’ve done it before, so it’s not like I don’t have the balls.
But I’m tired of it!!
Do I really have to report it?