Getting fired from a job can be painful and embarrassing. It is even worse if you are fired for workplace misconduct or harassment. Not only have you lost your job, but you may also feel like you’ve lost your dignity and reputation.
The good news is that it is possible to get another job after being fired for harassment. However, there are a few things you need to do in order to improve your chances of being hired again.
In this article, we will discuss how the employer can fire you for behavioural misconduct and what you can do to find a new job after you are fired from your current job.
Can Your Employer Fire You After Accusing You of Harassment?
All organisations are required to create and follow stringent policies to avoid any workplace misconduct. Some categories such cases generally land up are mental harassment, verbal or abusive language, sexual harassment, etc.
Hence, a thorough investigation and checks are done to verify the case when a complaint is reported.
In most harassment cases, if the alleged pleads guilty or there is enough proof to confirm it, the organization is liable to fire the employee in question. However, there are situations where an employer lets the employee resume work if there is not enough proof to prove it.
How to Get a Job After Being Fired for Harassment
First, it’s important to take some time to reflect on what happened and why it led to your firing. What did you do wrong and how can you avoid making the same mistake in the future?
It’s also a good idea to get some counseling or therapy to help you deal with the situation and learn how to better interact with people. It may take some time, but it is possible to find a new job after being fired for harassment.
1. Be Honest and Upfront About What Happened
When appearing for an interview, it is better to keep the hiring managers informed about the situation that led you to leave your previous job. If you made a mistake, mention it.
Everyone loves a person who is honest about their past. If a misunderstanding led to you quitting, share the incident details, informing them how you could not prove your innocence.
2. Take Responsibility for Your Actions
In case you were guilty of the harassment, take responsibility for it. Giving details of the incident and how you were found guilty can help the employer assess your personality. You made a mistake, and by being open about it, you are showing that you would like to learn and work on acting better.
3. Demonstrate That You’ve Learned From Your Mistake
It is essential that when you quote the incident, you also let the hiring manager know that you have learned your lesson. Tell them how you are working towards being a better person, and not repeat what happened. Employers love when people show their vulnerability while also learning from their errors.
4. Focus On The Future, Not the Past
You must not dwell on the incident details too long. Let the hiring managers know that although it was a mistake that cost you your job, you are now focused on doing better in the future. As a professional, your career goals are essential, and you must demonstrate skills that will help you accomplish great things in the new job.
5. Highlight Your Positive Qualities and Accomplishments
In an interview, it is essential to talk about your achievements and what you bring to the table. While the incident at your last job is a must to be mentioned, try to move on to better topics that describe you best.
It would help if you talked about any initiatives or processes you implemented at your last job that helped your team and the organization. Also, do not forget to mention any awards or rewards you received during your tenure.
6. Be Prepared to Answer Questions
You should know that once you mention the incident, there will be questions from the hiring manager’s side. Be ready to answer any difficult questions that may decrease your self-confidence. They are only trying to assess you as a potential candidate and cannot do so without asking the tricky question.
7. Seek Professional Help if Necessary
Considering your situation, it may be a good idea to consider professional help before appearing for interviews. The incident may cause some damage to your mental abilities and to your confidence and the will to be an excellent professional.
Reaching out to a psychologist or a medical expert that can guide you through this stage will prove beneficial when you appear for an interview.
8. Don’t Give Up Hope
Remember that the past incident does not define who you are as a person. You will have the same opportunities as everyone else. Do not give up on yourself and the chance of doing something better in life.
Trust yourself, and be open to new ideas and positive thoughts. Your goal should be to do better in life and have a job that aligns with your career goals.
Will Being Fired for Harassment After I Already Have a Job Lined Up Affect Me?
There is a possibility that a harassment case against you in your current job impacts your status at a potential interview. Again, you only have one option; to be open about the incident and inform the other organization’s hiring manager so they can decide.
The decision may not be in your favor, but at least it will give them an idea about your transparent personality and how you only wish to take things forward based on facts. And if they still allow you to appear for the interview, you should use this as a chance to undo any past wrongdoings.
Can You Get Fired for Harassing Someone Outside of Work?
Harassing a colleague outside work hours depends on the situation and what led to it. Hence, it is difficult to suggest if it will impact your position in the organization. If your story aligns correctly with evidence of no harassment, you should not worry about the proceedings.
However, if you have made a mistake and are found guilty, it could impact your job if the deciding authorities find the situation a liability to them.
What Happens if You Are Fired for Harassment?
Getting fired for harassment would put a red in your ledger, meaning anywhere you go, the records will show that an incident had occurred. Depending on how severe the incident was, it will impact your professional growth. You could also lose all possible job opportunities and be never considered for a job.
Can You Get Fired for Reporting Harassment?
No, sharing information on a possible harassment situation does not impact your job. Being a whistleblower may help others around you avoid a potentially hazardous situation.
However, if an incident is wrongly reported as harassment, it may have implications as it shows wrongful accusations and potential defamation for another person.
Do You Need to Talk to a Lawyer About Your Employer Firing You After Accusing You of Harassment?
It is appropriate to discuss a potential harassment case with your lawyer. It helps you avoid making any hasty decisions and guards you from any potential risks. Having a lawyer would also allow you the best options, depending on whether you are guilty.
How Does Getting Fired From a Company Affect a Person’s Career?
Getting fired from your job can affect your career if it involves a direct harassment or policy breach case against you. Although sometimes organisations fire someone without reporting an incident to save their reputation, this could help you avoid any negative questions in your job interview.
Does Getting Fired From a Job Actually Show Up on Your Record When You Apply to a New Job?
Yes, if you have been fired for any wrong deeds, and it was reported, this would show up in the records of a potential employer. It means you will be answering more questions than your competition but also offers the potential to clear off any wrong blame made against you.
What Are 3 Actions That Are Considered Harassment?
Being verbally abusive, sexually harassing, or mentally torturing someone in your office can counter official misconduct.
How Does HR Deal With Harassment?
Any case reported to HR gets investigated from both accusers and the accused’s side. No harassment case is taken at face value and considered a fair complaint when it is received by HR.
Only after proper investigation and proof submission can HR decide whether the complaint was correct and if the accused is guilty.
Wrongful Termination and Harassment
There are situations where the accused have been charged as guilty wrongfully. In such cases, it is after termination that the employer realises that it was wrongful termination and that instead of the accused being a harasser, they have been harassed for being investigated.
Such cases sometimes land up in courts when the wrongly accused person files a case against the employer. And then, there are situations where organisations apologise to the person, asking them to join back the job with proper compensation.
What Can You Do if You Are Falsely Accused of Harassment at Work?
You can contact a lawyer and file a defamation case against the employer. It would give you the leverage as someone who does not give in as guilty, and with the suitable proof, you also have the possibility of being compensated for the accusations made against you.