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Sexual harassment grievance at work

111 replies

User12334 · 30/09/2026 13:21

I've had a bit of a difficult time in work recently for lots of reasons, but mostly due to a male colleague. A couple of months back, my small team which is predominantly male were in a meeting, I had a v neck dress on and was quite fine and was happily going about my business. A few hours in for whatever, one of the male colleagues leaves the room, returns and hands me a safety pin clearly indicating to cover myself up. He said that "you can go use the private room". It took me a minute to actually process what was happening and I abruptly left the meeting, where my two managers were a bit like what's going on.
I stupidly used the pin because i was just so taken aback, I returned and felt like running away. At the end of the meeting, same colleague caught me at the end and said "did you manage to regain your modesty", which again I was so taken aback with I started justifying my dress choice.

We then were going on to do some social activities as a team day which I could see far enough, I did a detour to tesco to get a vest top to go underneath the dress, to which he again comes up to me and says "are you more comfortable now" 🙃

This isn't the first time he's giving me the ick but it's the first time it's gone too far. He has a habit of mansplaining things to me or talking over me in meetings etc. Dirty humour is really not my thing and when he has tried it in the past I've just ignored it or tried to change the subject but he continues anyway.

Anyway, I raised a grievance and everyone at work was really supportive until they weren't. I feel like since he had his review everyone's been like on his side in a way. A member of HR phoned me before I got the letter out and told me how distraught he was about the whole thing and that that should hopefully make rebuilding our relationship easier. My manager has outright said before as well when I have said about not wanting to be in a room alone with him that I need to be able to work with him again.

Fast forward a few weeks, we have a catch up where he actually fails to apologise without me prompting and is playing the neurodivergent card to explain his behaviour. I am also neurodivergent and know plenty of others who are but haven't sexually harassed their colleague.

I'm currently off work because I was feeling too run down by the whole thing and have recently discovered I'm pregnant. Before all this, I would only see this colleague face to face once a month at most as we are spread out geographically. My managers are now proposing we rotate office each week so we can work together more - despite being in the same team we all work on completely different things and have always worked primarily remotely. The travel to the other offices for me is 2.5/3 hours each way if the trains are on time. They are also aware of my pregnancy so between that and the grievance I'm really feeling a bit miffed about everything.

I don't really know what the point of this post is, I guess I'm just looking for some advice or maybe to be told I'm overthinking it and need to get over it lol.

OP posts:
mybiggreenfrog · 01/10/2026 19:24

How long after the event did you submit your grievance?

User12334 · 01/10/2026 19:26

mybiggreenfrog · 01/10/2026 19:24

How long after the event did you submit your grievance?

It happened the Friday and I raised the grievance on the Tuesday (I wasn't working the Monday after)

OP posts:
Didimum · 01/10/2026 19:52

mcmuffin22 · 01/10/2026 18:30

The constant references to the OP's breasts? You don't think that's sexual?

I’m talking about the specific grievance, which was the safety pin incident.

Didimum · 01/10/2026 19:54

User12334 · 01/10/2026 18:40

His intent doesn't matter, I'm sure he thought he was a knight in shining armour, however the impact left me embarrassed and degraded, impact over intent

No, it’s intent is key to sexual harassment. The intent doesn’t need to have made an impact is the caveat.

Fiftyandme · 01/10/2026 19:57

I can’t get my head around the women who are saying this isn’t sexual harassment.

it absoloutly bloody well is

goldenpanda · 01/10/2026 20:04

It sounds like you need to raise more grievances about his other behaviour. The fact that you put up with it and don’t say anything is giving him room to continue.

It’s very awkward raising any HR issues at work, but you’ve already gone through it so this might just be a way to actually be heard. I don’t know where they stand legally but I think if his other behaviour is continuing, which is not what your grievance was about, then they need a record of it to justify you not working with him face to face.

Pearlstillsinging · 01/10/2026 20:07

Spaniels4Eva · 30/09/2026 14:39

I would be going back to HR telling them what's distressing is being made to feel like you were in a professional meeting and by a colleague who had no right whatsoever to patronise you in the way that he did. His remarks weren't anything to do with your work ability, it was purely personal and sexual.

They're being just as patronising as he was ffs.

This.
Ask for a risk assessment for working during your pregnancy and make it clear that additional travel is a risk factor. Tbh it's a long time since I've heard anything so ridiculous.

RoobarbsCustard · 01/10/2026 20:07

Didimum · 01/10/2026 19:52

I’m talking about the specific grievance, which was the safety pin incident.

What do you think he was suggesting she should cover?

Didimum · 01/10/2026 20:15

RoobarbsCustard · 01/10/2026 18:42

I don’t think you need an explanation, it’s a clear as day.

No one had even attempted to explain why his actions were sexually motivated. A commentary on modesty does not instantly have a connection with sexual intent.

Justbrieme · 01/10/2026 20:18

Didimum · 30/09/2026 17:05

The Pamela Anderson comment doesn’t form part of OP’s grievance, as I understand it. It was only the safety pin incident.

Are you from a HR background?

You clearly have a deep understanding and background in Sexual Harassment because of your willingness to express your opinions on it but I suspect maybe your HR experience is from the Dolly Parton 9 to 5 era.

It just does not sound like it fits with modern British culture but it is helpful to the OP to know how things might have been handled back then in case she ever buys a Time Machine .

Didimum · 01/10/2026 20:20

RoobarbsCustard · 01/10/2026 20:07

What do you think he was suggesting she should cover?

Modesty is to encourage choosing clothing and demeanour that avoids drawing excessive or sexual attention. How is encouraging modesty sexual intent?

Didimum · 01/10/2026 20:24

Justbrieme · 01/10/2026 20:18

Are you from a HR background?

You clearly have a deep understanding and background in Sexual Harassment because of your willingness to express your opinions on it but I suspect maybe your HR experience is from the Dolly Parton 9 to 5 era.

It just does not sound like it fits with modern British culture but it is helpful to the OP to know how things might have been handled back then in case she ever buys a Time Machine .

I’m replying to people who have replied to me and not changing my mind when they can’t answer the question. Not sure what that has to do with ‘obsession’. Acas guidance is very clear that sexual harassment requires sexually motivated intent.

Nowhere have I said that OP’s grievance shouldn’t be upheld. And nowhere have I said that the man’s behaviour was OK – I said it warrants disciplinary action. That doesn’t mean it’s sexual harassment.

VenusThighTrap · 01/10/2026 20:36

Didimum · 01/10/2026 20:24

I’m replying to people who have replied to me and not changing my mind when they can’t answer the question. Not sure what that has to do with ‘obsession’. Acas guidance is very clear that sexual harassment requires sexually motivated intent.

Nowhere have I said that OP’s grievance shouldn’t be upheld. And nowhere have I said that the man’s behaviour was OK – I said it warrants disciplinary action. That doesn’t mean it’s sexual harassment.

The Acas site contradicts what you are saying about intent. Did you actually read it?

Sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature. The law (Equality Act 2010) protects the following people against sexual harassment at work:

  • employees and workers
  • contractors and self-employed people hired to personally do the work
  • job applicants
To be sexual harassment, the unwanted behaviour must have either:
  • violated someone's dignity
  • created an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for someone
It can be sexual harassment if the behaviour:
  • has one of these effects even if it was not intended
  • intended to have one of these effects even if it did not have that effect
Justbrieme · 01/10/2026 20:36

Didimum · 01/10/2026 20:24

I’m replying to people who have replied to me and not changing my mind when they can’t answer the question. Not sure what that has to do with ‘obsession’. Acas guidance is very clear that sexual harassment requires sexually motivated intent.

Nowhere have I said that OP’s grievance shouldn’t be upheld. And nowhere have I said that the man’s behaviour was OK – I said it warrants disciplinary action. That doesn’t mean it’s sexual harassment.

Again Didimum what is your background in HR?

Dreamcatcherat50 · 01/10/2026 20:39

Fiftyandme · 01/10/2026 19:57

I can’t get my head around the women who are saying this isn’t sexual harassment.

it absoloutly bloody well is

It's very common these days. Carrying water for the patriarchy gets you a slightly longer leash.

Also some of them are men typing with one hand.

GettingTooOldForThis · 01/10/2026 20:41

Sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature.

Telling a woman that they should cover up their cleavage is a sexual nature.

There does not have to be any intent from the perpetrator.

all organisations soon will have a legal duty to reduce the likelihood of it happening.

i can assure you that this would be seen as sexual harassment and the organisation should be reducing the chances of this happening again not throwing the victim and perpetrator into a closer environment.

EweCee · 01/10/2026 21:49

EmpressStorm · 01/10/2026 16:13

Saying it’s not sexual harassment doesn’t translate to saying it’s ok. Thay was a leap you made as not everyone agrees with you and you appear to have come over all angry about it

Lol, no anger here. Just believe in standing up for woman not being harassed in the workplace due to having female sex characteristics.

RoobarbsCustard · 01/10/2026 22:38

Didimum · 01/10/2026 20:15

No one had even attempted to explain why his actions were sexually motivated. A commentary on modesty does not instantly have a connection with sexual intent.

Modesty from what? What does suggesting a woman isn’t protecting her modesty mean?

RoobarbsCustard · 01/10/2026 22:39

Dreamcatcherat50 · 01/10/2026 20:39

It's very common these days. Carrying water for the patriarchy gets you a slightly longer leash.

Also some of them are men typing with one hand.

There’s definitely men.

fatphalange · 01/10/2026 23:18

You ignored his smutty jokes so he’s found a ‘legitimate’ reason to fixate on your boobs. Absolute rotter :(

EBearhug · 01/10/2026 23:31

Didimum · 01/10/2026 19:54

No, it’s intent is key to sexual harassment. The intent doesn’t need to have made an impact is the caveat.

Edited

It's intent is not key. It's the perception that's key. Intent has not been key in harassment cases for years, do you can't just say, "I didn't mean it," "it was just a joke, can't you take a joke?" He made her feel uncomfortable (and continued to do so with follow-up comments,) and that is what is important.

Italiangreyhound · 01/10/2026 23:32

I am so sorry. This sounds awful.

The boss is expecting you to do a long commute so you can be in the office with someone who was offensive to you. Sounds like you are being punished.

tetleyhead · 01/10/2026 23:46

Assuming you’re in UK @User12334I understand new legislation coming into force on 30th October requires that employers must take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment. Our work are taking it very seriously (as they should). It might be worth asking what your employer are doing

Aydel · 01/10/2026 23:58

I’m a former union rep - this is definitely sexual harassment and I’ve seen people dismissed for less.

mcmuffin22 · 02/10/2026 08:14

Didimum · 01/10/2026 20:15

No one had even attempted to explain why his actions were sexually motivated. A commentary on modesty does not instantly have a connection with sexual intent.

Whether you like it or agree with it or not is totally irrelevant. The definition of what constitutes sexual harassment is clear. A quick Internet search will confirm this. I don't know why you are insistent that it is not sexual harassment.