Help a Coworker

Here are some ways you can support a coworker who has asked you for help or who you think may need help:

• Listen empathetically with no judgment. Listen with the goal of helping your coworker to the next steps of help and/or healing.
• Share available resources. Your colleague may be feeling very overwhelmed and unsure of how to process their feelings. Encourage them to seek help from professionals at the Title IX coordinator's office, the employee assistance program, or counseling services in the community. Trained professionals can help guide them through the process and make sure their rights are protected.
• Learn more about sexual misconduct and PM-73 to help understand LSU processes and better support your coworker. The more you know the better you will be able to help others in need.
• Stay attentive to your own needs and feelings as you support your coworker; it’s not uncommon to experience secondary trauma, sometimes called vicarious trauma, as you help them navigate their own healing journey. Find more information about secondary trauma and ways to manage it.

A note about retaliation: When injustice of any form touches those we know or love, we can feel the need to “fix” or correct the situation they (or you) are experiencing—possibly by retaliating against the accused individual. Please remember, LSU prohibits retaliation toward individuals (including respondents, or the accused individual) involved in any aspect of the reported incident. If you feel tempted to act out against the person you feel may have harmed your friend or colleague, take a step back and remember to let the investigation and legal process bear out. Retaliation is never okay.

Likewise, if you or a coworker are fearful of retaliation from a respondent, there are resources available to help you seek a “no contact” or restraining order. If you have any questions or concerns about what constitutes retaliation or about restraining orders, please contact the Title IX coordinator.