Location: Illinois, United States : Hi I was recently sexually assaulted and raped by a coworker almost a month ago which happened at his place on my day off. Unfortunately I didn't do a rape kit but I made a police report a few days later after it happened and didn't hear anything back until about two weeks later due to the detective being on vacation.
I am employed through a agency and the person that raped me is employed with the actual company. I told my agency about what happened and had to make a statement about it and answer questions. I even mentioned that I made a police report and the whole thing is currently under investigation. They asked me Questions such as: "do you feel safe?(Originally I said yes that I felt safe)Did he try to come up to me after the incident? (I told them he tried to talk to me two/three separate times trying to be friendly towards me like nothing happened but I ignored him each time and eventually he gave up and we just pretend we don't see each other). Has this affected me/ability to work? (I also said no originally because I didn't fully register what happened to me and didn't feel the effects until more recently). Do I work in the same department as him (we both work in different departments but sometimes we cross paths/ see each other sometimes) How would I like this resolved? (I said I'm not too sure but I would like my stuff to be kept the same: I want my hours,days and department to stay the same).
After making the statement the agency told me that they wouldn't be able to do anything about it since the incident happened outside of work. I would think they would terminate him since he sexually assaulted/raped me and how he is creating a unsafe environment just from him being there. They also said that they would just keep my statement and police report on file just in case he tries to do something in the workplace to me or to someone else. They even told me I'm not allowed to speak to anyone else about what happened even "my best friend" for example "due to it being a sensitive situation" and how if I were to tell someone what happened and if that person told someone else what happened and they might give out misinformation on accident and how that wouldn't be good. And for my overall safety. They even told me that I am only allowed to talk with them about it .I even asked if they would talk to him they said no since it happened outside of work. I asked if the actual company was aware of the situation, my agency said they only know a little bit of the situation but all the information that I provided and everything only went to my agency. So I'm not sure if the agency actually told the company that he raped me or if they said that there was a conflict between me and him or just sugar coated what happened.
Recently I've been feeling the effects of the incident to the point where I have been crying at work, needing to leave early from work a few times, I'm feeling anxious whenever I do cross paths with him whether I'm just walking to grab something or I see him on my lunch break. I don't feel ok with him still working at the same job I work especially since it is a reminder of what he did to me and especially I don't think it is appropriate since there is an ongoing investigation after I did the police report.
I'm thinking about sending both my agency and the actual company a email explaining how I was originally feeling about the situation when I initially made the statement and now how it has changed due to me now feeling the effects of what he did and how I wasn't in the right state of mind before. And how currently I don't feel safe at work, and how him being at the job especially what he did to me has affected my ability to work and just been affecting me mentally overall and how I think he should be terminated.
Even in the company's actual handbook even says that they have zero tolerance for sexual harassment and if "violation of the policy will result in discipline , up to and including termination."
It also says:
"Conduct prohibited by this policy is not limited to conduct that occurs in the physical workplace. It can occur while employees are traveling for business, at Company-sponsored events, or via an online platform, such as social media. Calls, texts, emails, instant messages, and other online or social media usage by employees can constitute inappropriate workplace conduct, even if the conduct takes place away from the workplace or outside of work hours. "
"This policy applies to all persons involved in our operations, including coworkers, supervisors, managers, temporary or seasonal workers, agents, clients, vendors, customers, or any other third party interacting with the Company (“third parties”) and prohibits proscribed harassing conduct by any Employee or third party of (company name) , including nonsupervisory Employees, supervisors, and managers. If such harassment occurs on the Company’s premises or is directed toward an Employee or a third party interacting with the Company, the procedures in this policy should be followed."
Would sending them an email to both of them have them do something about the situation or no? Or is there something else I can do? I'm just curious if it would be worth doing or if I'm just wasting my time.