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Why Are Sexual Predators Being Protected in The Office?
I went through another first that unfortunately, many other women do too.
Over the summer, I started a remote job as a secretary at my college and it was an introvert’s dream: being completely alone at home. Unfortunately, I was recently forced to leave the lap of luxury of working on my couch and cooking freely to return back to the office in person.
While I was initially anxious about the fear of adapting back to a stricter schedule, what I came across was far worse.
With returning to work in person came meeting my coworkers in person. Some of them are absolutely amazing. Others are the sole reason I’m writing this.
During my first week back, I met one fellow student employee who immediately gave me a strange gut feeling. He didn’t seem dangerous or threatening, but something was off.
My intuition later proved me right, and I was sexually harassed at work numerous times by this coworker.
In my first few weeks, I’ve been asked uncomfortable questions and forced into having conversations I didn’t want. In the times I’ve been left alone with him, he has asked me everything from my dating history to what I liked in bed. These are things that I would never share with close friends, let alone a coworker I’ve known for three weeks.
What’s even worse is being forced into these conversations in the workplace, where anyone could walk into the room at any moment and take what I’m saying in a totally different direction.
But the fun doesn’t end when I clock out because this coworker would always walk me to my car. No matter how fast or sneakily I would try to get away from him, no was never taken as an acceptable answer. Being cordial was suddenly seen as an invitation for him to have a free for all.
As if all of this didn’t sound off the alarm bells in your head, this definitely will.
One day, while sitting at my desk, this creepy coworker came in and started telling a story about a girl he’s interested in and been “talking” to. He mentioned a few days prior he went up to say hello to her, but then started massaging her shoulders without her consent. Apparently…
