Legal Question in Employment Law in Washington

Re: Harassment / Inappropriate Conduct

Unfortunately, you have probably waited too long. Statute of limitations for the federal laws is either 180 days or 300 days, depending on whether the state also has an enforcement agency. Washington does, but you are still past 300 days.

Washington state has a law with a three year statute of limitations. However, if your employer has a grievance process available (sounds like it does), and you do not use it (sounds like you didn't), and no adverse employment action was taken against you (salary lowered, position demoted, etc. - this part is unclear from your question), the employer has a defense. (The offending fellow employee does not.)

If the offending behavior went beyond April of 2004, you might want to discuss the specifics with an attorney, but you are probably too late.

Retaliation is a real risk when one reports harassment or any other violation of employment law. However, there are additional remedies for that if it happens, and unfortunately, the only way to get legal relief is to promptly use the employer's grievance procedure, if it has one, and then promptly proceed with legal action. It is daunting to think about, I know.