Thread by @TheSWPrincess

Dear @SenatorCollins - I'll tell you why I waited to report a coworker who touched me inappropriately, and why reports of harassment and assault can have "odd timing". 1/12 #MeToo #Kavanaugh

At an event for a coworker who was leaving the company, I was chatting with a married male coworker. Suddenly his hand was up the back of my blouse, almost touching my bra.

I froze in shock for a second, then backed away, stammering "What are you doing?" 2/12 #TuesdayThoughts

He smiled and said "nothing". I walked away and joined some other coworkers. He stayed away from me after that.

I told my boyfriend about it, but decided not to report to HR for several reasons. 3/12 #RoyMoore

1️⃣ His wife had come to other company events, several people at my company knew her.

2️⃣ What good would it do? We'd had a friendly coworker relationship for a few years, I'd never heard or seen anything like this about him. 4/12
#AnitaHill #JudgeThomas

3️⃣ Would HR believe me? Would they think I was a complainer?

4️⃣ How would he react if I reported him to HR? I was pretty sure he wouldn't be fired, so I'd still see him around the office, and may have to work with him in the future. 5/12 #HarveyWeinstein

5️⃣ Could this cause problems for me? Would he tell people I reported him and say I overreacted? Would others treat me differently?

6️⃣ What if he denied it and accused me of lying? I couldn't prove anything. It was my word against his. 6/12 #harassment #TimesUp

There was so much risk of negative repercussions for me, and I was pretty sure I'd still have to work with him.

It was highly inappropriate and invasive, but not dangerous. And he had avoided me since then. There didn't seem to be a reason to report it. 7/12

Toward the end of the week rumors started going around that he had done similar things to 3 other women that night. It was talked about by men and women.

I overheard a guy in the break room saying "mistakes were made, true, but it was nothing terrible".

I kept quiet. 8/12

Two weeks later I heard that he applied for an open manager position. He'd have women reporting to him.

I knew HR had to know. There was no way I could keep quiet now. I couldn't stop him from getting the promotion, but I couldn't not report it and put other women at risk. 9/12

I spoke to each of the other women privately and explained that I was going to report what happened to me and why, and asked if they would report too. One didn't want to report. Another did. I don't know what the 3rd decided. 10/12
📰 goo.gl/R5SV4Z

HR listened to me, didn't seem judgemental. I told them about the other woman who also said she would report to them.

I explained why I was reluctant to report, and why I decided to.

They took a report. When they followed up with me they said it went on his record. 11/12

He didn't get the promotion. I was very relieved.

So you see, there are VERY good reasons why a woman would decide not to report.

AND why a woman would decide to come forward based on a man being considered for a promotion.

I hope you can stop questioning Dr. Ford's motives.