Creating a Harassment Log: What to Include

Essential Elements of Every Entry

Date and Time Documentation: - Record the exact date (month, day, year) - Note specific time of incident (be as precise as possible) - Include duration of the incident - Document time zone if relevant (for remote work situations) - Note whether incident occurred during work hours or work-related events Location Information: - Specific location within workplace (conference room, break room, hallway) - Note if location was public or private - Include building name, floor, or department if applicable - Document whether location was on company property - Note if incident occurred at work-related events off-site People Involved: - Full names of all harassers (include titles/positions) - Names and contact information of witnesses - Note relationship between you and harasser (supervisor, coworker, client) - Include job titles and departments of all involved parties - Document reporting relationships and power dynamics

Detailed Incident Description

Objective Facts: Record what happened without interpretation or emotional language: - Direct quotes whenever possible (use quotation marks for exact words) - Physical actions taken (gestures, touching, blocking path) - Visual elements (offensive materials displayed, inappropriate images) - Sequence of events in chronological order - Context leading up to the incident Subjective Impact: Document how the incident affected you: - Your emotional response during and after the incident - Physical symptoms experienced (nausea, headaches, anxiety) - Impact on work performance or attendance - Effect on relationships with coworkers - Changes in behavior or work patterns as a result Your Response: Record how you responded to the harassment: - What you said or did during the incident - Whether you objected or indicated the behavior was unwelcome - Any immediate actions you took (leaving the area, reporting to supervisor) - Follow-up actions you took after the incident - Why you responded the way you did

Sample Harassment Log Entry

` Date: March 15, 2024 Time: 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM EST Location: Conference Room B, 3rd Floor, Main Building

People Involved: - Harasser: John Smith, Senior Manager, Marketing Department - Witnesses: Maria Garcia (Administrative Assistant), David Lee (Project Coordinator) - Victim: [Your name and title]

Incident Description: During the weekly marketing meeting, John Smith made the following comment when I presented the quarterly budget analysis: "Well, you know how women are with numbers - maybe we should have one of the guys double-check this." He then laughed and looked around the room. Maria Garcia looked uncomfortable and David Lee stared at his papers. When I responded that my analysis was thorough and accurate, Smith said, "Don't get emotional about it, that's just how women react to criticism."

My Response: I stated firmly, "My analysis is based on factual data, and gender has nothing to do with mathematical accuracy." I completed my presentation but felt humiliated and angry.

Impact: I felt embarrassed in front of my colleagues and questioned whether my contributions are valued. I noticed Maria looked sympathetic but said nothing. After the meeting, I had difficulty concentrating on work and experienced a headache for the rest of the afternoon.

Additional Notes: This is the third time in two months that Smith has made gender-based comments about my work. Previous incidents occurred on January 22 and February 8 (see separate entries). `