Facing Email and Mobile Harassment: How Can Women HR Professionals Legally Protect Themselves?

Dear All,

I am pleased to introduce myself as a software HR Professional working in a leading software company. I am very happy to be part of this forum. I kindly request the seniors in this forum to shed some light on the following issue that myself and my colleagues, as women professionals, are experiencing.

E-MAIL ABUSE:

As an HR Professional, I usually provide my email address for candidates to send resumes and communicate. However, I have been receiving obscene pictures, messages, and stories of a vulgar nature to my email address under disguise. Despite changing my email address multiple times, my concerns persist. How can I identify and take legal action against the offenders?

MOBILE ABUSE:

Similar to the email abuse, I share my mobile number for better communication with applicants. Unfortunately, I have been receiving obscene messages and MMS on my mobile device. Despite my efforts to trace the senders, I have been unsuccessful. What is the proper legal procedure to file complaints against such offenders?

With regards to all forum members,

Trisha
HR Professional

Dear Trish,

Greetings!

Two things you can do for unwanted mails:

1. Mail Box Dispatcher is a Spam Blocker that filters spam, viruses, and other unwanted emails without receiving them. The built-in self-learning Spam Detector helps recognize spam messages.

2. Email filtering software which sits behind an email client such as Outlook Express. It wakes up when the client starts checking email messages from the account and lists messages, classifying them into three categories: viruses, spams, and useful emails.

You can seek help from the service desk personnel.

For mobile, since technology has advanced, we can't do anything.

Rgds,
John N

Trisha:

There is one way about email, instead of your mail, ask your IT guy to create a general mail as hr@....com or jobs@....com for any sort.

Regarding giving your mobile number, don't give your number; instead, you can provide your desk number. Also, you don't need to give your contact details to all the candidates; you can take their contact details and inform them that you will be in touch with them.

To trace those people, you have to go to the Cyber police and lodge a complaint. They would require the email IDs and mobile numbers from you to be able to trace them. It's simple these days.

Hope you have the idea now.

Thanks,
Mirza

Hi Trisha,

Please check with your system administrator regarding the blocking of emails from specific IDs. They will assist you with this issue. As for calls to your mobile phone, there is a feature available to block calls from numbers you do not wish to receive. The availability of this feature depends on the make of your mobile phone. Alternatively, you can contact your service provider for assistance with this matter.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Best regards, [Your Name]

To avoid trouble and harassment, I don't reveal my real identity to anyone on the internet. In my professional life, I only share my cell phone number and email address with trusted professionals whom I personally know.

If your company doesn't pay your mobile bills, why use it for official purposes? That's my motto.

I feel sad for you.

If you are receiving such emails on your office ID, bring this to the notice of the IT department. They can trace the IP address and identify the sender. Do not share your personal email ID with anyone.

Why do you want the candidate to speak with you after office hours? Provide your office phone number to candidates. If your company has provided you with a mobile phone, use that number. You can report the issue to the police and inform them about the messages from X, Y, Z numbers. Let them investigate.

Self-defense is the best defense. You need to develop strategies to protect yourself.

Regards, Sanjeev

BLOG: http://sanjeevhimachali.blogspot.com/