How to report harassment at work or online
Report harassment by documenting it first: write down each incident with the date, time, place, what was said or done and any witnesses, and save screenshots with the date visible before you block anyone. Then choose the channel: your employer's written policy at work, the platform's reporting tool online, and the police for threats. An employment lawyer can advise on your rights.
Why it matters: Documenting first makes whichever channel you choose work better.
Steps
- Start a private log, somewhere only you can reach, and add each incident with date, time, place, what happened and witnesses.
- Save screenshots of messages or posts with the date and the account name visible, and back them up.
- At work, find the harassment policy and the named person to report to, such as a manager or human resources.
- Report in writing by email and keep a copy; ask what happens next and when.
- Online, use the platform's report tool, then block or mute once you have saved evidence.
- For threats, stalking or anything that makes you fear for your safety, report to the police with your log.
- Ask an employment lawyer or your state's civil rights office about your options if the response is inadequate.
Stop and call a professional if
- you receive threats of violence or feel unsafe: call your local emergency number, 911 in the US
- you face retaliation for reporting at work: speak to an employment lawyer
Questions to ask the professional
- What is the deadline for filing a complaint in my state?
- What protections do I have against retaliation?
Common mistakes
- Blocking or deleting before saving the evidence.
- Reporting only verbally, with no written record.
- Waiting until it has happened many times to start a log.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to report harassment at work or online
What to say
Report harassment by documenting it first: write down each incident with the date, time, place, what was said or done and any witnesses, and save screenshots with the date visible before you block anyone. Then choose the channel: your employer's written policy at work, the platform's reporting tool online, and the police for threats. An employment lawyer can advise on your rights.
What to show
- Start a private log, somewhere only you can reach, and add each incident with date, time, place, what happened and witnesses.
- Save screenshots of messages or posts with the date and the account name visible, and back them up.
- At work, find the harassment policy and the named person to report to, such as a manager or human resources.
- Report in writing by email and keep a copy; ask what happens next and when.
- Online, use the platform's report tool, then block or mute once you have saved evidence.
- For threats, stalking or anything that makes you fear for your safety, report to the police with your log.
- Ask an employment lawyer or your state's civil rights office about your options if the response is inadequate.
Where it stops
Stop and call a professional if you receive threats of violence or feel unsafe: call your local emergency number, 911 in the US.
Check question
What should you do before blocking an online harasser?
Answer: Save dated screenshots. Evidence has to exist before you remove it from view.
Your checklist
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Quick quiz
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Related skills
Sources
- US federal workplace harassment guidance for employees, 2026. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .