Have you ever gone to your HR office to report sexual harassment? If so, how did it turn out for you?

I’m asking because I reported someone several years ago. A man at my work was intimidating me and wouldn’t leave me alone. I was convinced by another (male) coworker to talk to HR. The HR director basically swept the whole thing under the rug and made me feel as though I had done something wrong.

Last week, a former coworker sent me a newspaper article showing that the man had been arrested for intimidating and threatening to arrest a woman at her home (he’s a police officer.) It made me angry that he was still out there doing the same old thing. Since I’ve read this article, I’ve heard through the grapevine that there are other women who experienced the same sort of harassment and intimidation at his hands.

I’ve seen a lot of statements by men, here on Fluther, that women cry “sexual harassment” too often. I’m sure it happens, but, I can tell you, from experience, that there are plenty of men who get away with mistreating women on a daily basis and that it’s not easy to come forward.

What is your experience with this issue? Have you accused someone or have you been falsely accused? What was the result? I know this is a touchy issue, so let’s play nice.