Resignation
When navigating the fallout of a sexual harassment incident in the workplace, we sometimes find ourselves considering the option of resignation. For me, this was a very difficult, but necesary, decision to make. If the choice presents itself, always remember that your well-being is your top priority and consider my following suggestions:
Choose Yourself
You deserve a workplace that treats you with dignity and respect. If you aren’t receiving that in your current position, then it may be time to prioritize your well-being and resign.
After I reported sexual harassment to my supervisor, he made retaliatory statements implying that I would be losing my job. For months, I tried to convince upper-level management of my concerns, only to be dismissed. And when my supervisor caught wind of this, he had time to backpedal on his retaliatory actions. In hindsight, if I had let my supervisor go through with his retaliatory threats and not renew my contract, my EEO case would’ve been much stronger.
It finally got to a point where advocating for myself had become my second full-time job. I had climbed mountains (literally) to secure my dream job only for it to be tainted by messy sexual harassment complaint - not to mention the emotional trauma of being sexually harassed in the first place. This wasn’t what I had in mind nine years ago when I embarked on my journey toward becoming a fish and wildlife biologist.
Eventually, I decided that the trade-off for maintaining my dream job wasn't worth the fight. I chose to put myself first. I chose to resign.
Notify Your EEO Counselor and Attorney
If you decide to resign, contact your EEO Counselor and attorney as soon as possible. Your EEO Counselor will then add your resignation to your list of claims/charges in the form of "constructive discharge" (meaning an involuntary resignation due to a hostile work environment). You can then revise your EEO complaint remedy by adding lost future wages, benefits, etc. as a result of your constructive discharge.
Document, Document, Document!
As always, preserve all emails, texts, online messaging chats, as well as notes on all meetings and phone calls, including dates, times, locations, and descriptions of your resignation process. Remember to add important dates to your log, such as the date you notified your employer of your resignation, and your actual end date.
Submit a Resignation Letter
Submit a resignation letter to your employer and your EEO Counselor stating that you do not feel comfortable in your work environment. You don’t need to provide any further details.
If you're unsure what this would look like, I’ve provided an example resignation letter below to get you started.
Your name
Address line 1
Address line 2
Phone number
email
Date
Supervisor name
Supervisor title
Company/agency name
Address line 1
Address line 2
Dear (insert supervisor’s name)
I ask that you accept this as my formal notification that I am leaving my position as (insert position) with (insert company/agency). I will continue to work in my role for the next few weeks, completing my employment on (insert end date).
When accepting this position, I was excited about the prospect of being part of a team making meaningful change. During my time here, I have invested a great deal of time and energy into my work. However, as you are already aware, I do not feel comfortable in my work environment.
I will coordinate with my immediate coworkers to begin transferring my work duties before my end date. Please reach out if there are any questions regarding my departure.
Best wishes,
Your name
If you are experiencing, sexual harassment, retaliation, or any other form of workplace discrimination, feel free to reach out to me at hello@kendallsimon.com for support and guidance.
***Disclaimer: These are merely my recommendations based on my personal experience. I am not legally responsible for any decisions made based on the information provided.***