Most employers have set policies that can help them address harassment in the workplace. Still, it is a delicate situation, and the employee being harassed often is not sure what steps he or she should take. Following are some tips from the Canadian Health Network that can help you if you are being harassed in the workplace.

• Firmly ask the harasser to stop. Let him or her know the behavior is unacceptable.
• Keep track of each event involving the harasser. Record the dates, times, event details, witnesses and event outcomes in a journal or diary. This will support your complaint if and when you decide to report the harassment.
• Keep copies of everything the harasser sends to you, including e-mails, letters, memos and faxes.
• If you receive correspondences from the harasser that challenge the quality of your work, keep them.
• Report the harassment to the person identified in your employee handbook, such as your manager or human resources department. If your concerns are not taken seriously, report the harassment to the next level of management.
• Be familiar with your company's violence prevention and harassment policies, and follow those procedures.
• Protect your space at work with an appropriate office layout and security measures, and request violence prevention training.
• Build a support network with family, friends and co-workers.

And be sure you don't:

• Retaliate
• Blame yourself
• Become involved in conversations that make you uncomfortable
• Agree or disagree with distorted statements
• Tolerate any form of harassment

This Web exclusive information is a supplement to A proper investigation.