It seems as if high-profile claims of workplace sexual harassment are cropping up daily. From Hollywood to Washington, D.C. , to newsrooms across the nation , harassers all male, in these cases have been fired or publicly shamed for a range of sexual misconduct, with some instances having occurred decades ago.

While sexual harassment can include physical incidents , such as rape and groping, it can also include unwanted advances, sexual requests and creating a hostile environment , pervasive jokes/comments, looks and body language that makes an individual feel harassed, explained Emily Austin , a director at the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, to Self magazine last month.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reports that one in four women face workplace harassment , while a 2015 Cosmopolitan survey concluded one in three women have been harassed at work at some point in their lives. That same survey found 71 percent of women didnt report the issue , while the EEOC estimate is even higher, 75 percent . Shame, denial and fear of losing a job are just a few reasons victims tend to avoid coming forward right away, according to Psychology Today.

When they do come forward, its sometimes years after the fact , and that can make a difference in how a case is handled by both law enforcement and human resources departments.

Employees are often told how to report current episodes of harassment . But what about old ones? What if you were harassed at a previous job or the perpetrator no longer works at the same company you do? What if both of you have moved on to new jobs? Its fair and responsible to want to warn the women or men who now work with your harasser. Unfortunately, the system doesnt favor someone who brings forward an older case. Legal experts shared some advice about what you need to know.

In most cases, you cant file a legal complaint or a lawsuit.

The statute of limitations refers to the amount of time you have to file a legal complaint or lawsuit against someone else. In most cases, the statute of limitations for workplace sexual harassment is either six or 10 months from the last incident, said Donna Ballman , an employment attorney in Florida who specializes in employee self-defense . So if you were harassed more than 10 months ago, you likely cant take legal action against your harasser under federal law. However, its important to check your states timeframes for filing state and local civil rights claims, said Sunu Chandy, legal director at the National Womens Law Center.

Some states extend the statute of limitations under certain circumstances, usually dealing with minors, Ballman told HuffPost. But if your case is older than [10 months], youre probably out of luck for a [federal] lawsuit.