Abigail Van Buren advises assault survivors to contact police before HR
In a column published on Tuesday, the syndicated advice writer urged readers to secure evidence and consult legal counsel before reporting workplace sexual abuse to corporate management.
By Lucas Sheridan ·
Abigail Van Buren, the pseudonym for the syndicated advice column Dear Abby, provided new guidance for employees who experience sexual assault in the workplace. The column, which has run since 1956, addressed a reader who sought advice after returning to her hometown following an 18-year move to another state.
The reader, signing as Damaged in the East, described a pattern of abuse by a supervisor that lasted for nearly a year. She detailed tactics that included isolating her, offering insincere apologies, and claiming that her status as a community pillar would prevent anyone from believing her account. She noted that she left the position after a second incident occurred and the company failed to address the matter.
Van Buren advised readers to secure as much evidence as possible and report the assault directly to police rather than starting with company management. She stated that human resources and higher-ups tend to prioritize protecting the company over seeking justice for the employee. The column recommended consulting a lawyer who specializes in sexual abuse to determine the timing and method for reporting the incident to HR.
The writer also referenced the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, known as RAINN. The organization operates a national hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Van Buren encouraged readers to contact the hotline with questions regarding any type of sexual assault.
The reader who prompted the advice said she planned to begin a specific form of PTSD therapy after moving to a new state with her current husband. She expressed frustration at having to leave again, noting that the return to her hometown triggered intense emotional responses. She stated that she had to live with the fallout of the events every day.
The column noted that Jeanne Phillips wrote Dear Abby for nearly four decades. Pauline Phillips founded the column in 1956. Readers can reach the column through its website or via a mailing address in Kansas City, Missouri.
In a separate section of the same column, Van Buren addressed a reader named Feline who received multiple cat photos daily from a son-in-law. The advice suggested asking the relative to save the images and send them in one batch once a week.
The primary advice regarding workplace assault emphasized that the legal and law enforcement process should precede internal corporate reviews. Van Buren agreed with the reader that no one should have to endure such an experience. She affirmed that a professional therapist is better equipped to assist the reader at this stage than a newspaper columnist.
