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us Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
someone in authority implies work or another opportunity depends on sexual attention or favours

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Move to a safer pause, end the interaction if you can, and avoid making an immediate decision under pressure. If you are in immediate danger or cannot leave safely, call 911.

Do not do these things

  • Do not feel you must agree, explain yourself, or respond immediately to protect the opportunity.
  • Do not arrange a private meeting to obtain clarity if being alone with the person could increase your risk.
  • Do not send sexual material or agree to sexual contact because you fear losing work or an opportunity.
  • Do not confront or threaten the person in private if doing so could make the situation less safe.
  • Do not assume you must report, resign, withdraw, or publicly identify anyone today.
  • Do not blame yourself for freezing, delaying, appeasing, or trying to keep the interaction calm.
  • Do not rely on the person’s description of the pressure as joking, flirting, networking, or mentorship.

What to do now

  1. End the meeting, call, or conversation if you can, and move somewhere you feel safer or where other people are present.
  2. Contact someone you trust and tell them where you are, who is involved, and whether you need help leaving or avoiding further contact.
  3. If a response feels safe, keep it brief: “I am not discussing anything sexual. Please send any work or opportunity terms in writing.” You can also say that you need time and end the interaction.
  4. If it feels safe, save relevant messages and make a brief note of the date, place, words used, and anyone present, keeping the information somewhere the person cannot access.
  5. Contact RAINN for confidential support and help identifying local services. You can seek support without deciding whether to make a report.
  6. If this involves employment or a job application, contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission promptly to ask whether it covers the situation and which time limit or process may apply. An internal workplace review does not necessarily stop an external filing deadline.
  7. If this involves a school, college, training program, or other federally funded education opportunity, contact the institution’s Title IX coordinator or the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights to ask about available support and options.
  8. For another type of opportunity, ask RAINN or a local sexual-assault service provider to help identify an independent support route appropriate to that setting.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether to label what happened, make a formal complaint, contact law enforcement, leave the work or opportunity, confront the person, or speak publicly. Career, education, legal, and reporting decisions can wait until you are safer, supported, and able to consider your options without immediate pressure.

Important reassurance

You do not need complete proof or a perfect label before seeking support. Someone else’s use of authority to create sexual pressure is not your fault, and a delayed, cautious, or appeasing response does not make it your fault.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate safety, support, and potentially time-sensitive first steps only. Later decisions may require help from a victim advocate, employment adviser, Title IX specialist, union representative, or attorney familiar with the relevant state and setting.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, therapeutic, financial, or other professional advice. Rights, procedures, confidentiality rules, available protections, and deadlines can depend on the setting, state, employment status, institution, and other circumstances.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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