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By Hayley Pearson

Hayley Boswell is one of those “good people” who started law because she genuinely wanted to help others. She’s always been a champion for the most marginalised and disadvantaged people in Adelaide. Before she became “legally brunette” in her legal career, Hayley was a Youth Worker, caring for at-risk children and young people who had been removed from their parents due to neglect and/or abuse.

“Having grown up in Elizabeth, I had a huge amount of experience in dealing with marginalised groups, ” she says. Hayley talks the talk and walks the walk. Her professional life and volunteering activities are always centred on helping the underdog and she’s proud when her clients declare that she’s “not a typical lawyer” – in a good way.

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She’s been a lawyer with Websters Lawyers since 2013 and practises in a range of areas with a key specialisation in human rights law and looking after Adeladies who are going through a rough time in terms of sex and age discrimination and sexual harassment.

You only need a short chat with Hayley to realise that she really loves what she does. She is known for her empathy and determination to achieve the best for her clients.

Today she’s our Inspirational Adelady! Here are her :

5 tips for dealing with Workplace Sexual Harassment…

 sexual-harassment
Image credit: chicagonow.com

1.   Seek legal advice immediately.

Involving a lawyer as soon as possible means that you can access practical advice about how to deal with the situation and get more information about other services that can help you. A good lawyer will know and trust professionals (such as psychologists) who are experienced in this area and who empathise with their clients’ situations. A lawyer can advise you of your legal rights, whether to pursue a claim and, importantly, ensure that if you do wish to make a complaint, it is done within the time limit.

2.   Go and see your GP as soon as possible.

It’s important that your doctor is aware of what’s going on as early as possible. You may need some time off, a referral to a specialist, or even some medication to help you deal with the situation. The more information you can give your GP, the better they will be able to assess your situation and give you the help  that you need.

3.   Keep a record of all conversations, notes, meetings and incidents

Record keeping is really important because if you do end up pursuing a claim, your notes may be seen as sound evidence of the harassment. It is important to make notes as soon as possible after (or during) the conversation/meeting/incident and to ensure they are as detailed as possible. This means dates, times, locations, who was there, who said what, who did what. Record keeping is also important because sometimes it can be difficult to later recall precise details. You never know what may become an issue later on, so it’s better to cover your bases by keeping detailed notes.

4.   Make a report to your employer.

Making a report can sometimes help resolve the situation, or can even assist your claim (if you choose to make one). However, it’s important that you make a report to your employer only if you feel comfortable doing so, because your wellbeing is the most important thing. If you do make a report, make sure that you provide a written account of what has happened and that it describes events in detail. For example, include dates, times and locations of incidents and what was said or done. Even if you don’t want to pursue a claim, a written account will help you later if you change your mind. You should keep a copy of the report.  

5.  Talk to a friend or loved one

Never underestimate the help  that can come from a trusted friend or relative. It’s so important for your wellbeing to have support. Even if they can give you no practical assistance or advice, just being able to vent to someone can often make a huge difference to how you are coping.

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Hayley Pearson

Hayley Pearson

Co-Creator and Writer for Adelady, she still gets goosebumps that she’s combined her creative passion with sharing the best of her stunning home state.

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