How to document workplace harassment

If something is happening to you at work, the single most useful thing you can do — alongside reporting it — is keep a careful, contemporaneous record. Here's how to do it in a way that actually protects you.

Keep a running log

For each incident, write down as soon as possible:

Date, time, and place
Who was involved and who witnessed it
What was said or done — specifics, in their words where you can
How it affected your work
What you did (reported it, replied, etc.)

Contemporaneous notes — written at the time — carry far more weight than a summary you reconstruct months later.

Preserve the evidence

Save messages — emails, chats, texts — screenshots and originals.
Recordings, where lawful. If you record a conversation, check your local consent law first (guides here) — some places require everyone's consent. Make sure the recording is provable: Vocert seals each recording with a tamper-evident receipt and trusted timestamp and reminds you of local consent rules, so a lawful recording can be independently verified rather than dismissed as edited.
Keep copies off your work devices, which your employer may control.

Report it — and keep proof that you did

Follow your employer's reporting process (HR, a manager, a hotline) and document the report itself — when you reported, to whom, and what happened next. A pattern of reports that went nowhere is often as important as the incidents.

Get advice early

Harassment and retaliation laws are strong but nuanced, and deadlines can be short. An employment lawyer or your local labor/human-rights body can tell you what your documentation needs to show.

FAQ

Should I record harassment at work? It can help, but only where recording is lawful where you are — check the consent rule first, and be aware of employer policy.

What's the most important thing to keep? Contemporaneous notes (date, time, place, what happened, witnesses) plus preserved messages.

Who can help? An employment lawyer, HR, or your local labor / human-rights agency.

General information, not legal advice. This page does not address emergencies — if you are in danger, contact the authorities. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time; consult a qualified professional for your situation.