In the Navy we called the preferred action in this post a "informal complaint," in which you took it upon yourself to confront the issue and devise a solution a

In the Navy we called the preferred action in this post a "informal complaint," in which you took it upon yourself to confront the issue and devise a solution amongst yourselves. If that action did not resolve the issue, you then commenced to file a "formal complaint," where it was wide spread knowledge that something, usually much more disciplinary, would be done about the issue. The knowledge that a formal complaint would bring about unwanted consequences is often enough deterrence to such actions, however in the case that one may get a little too comfortable, or cross the line, at least they could rely on that "brotherhood" (whether it be a female or a male), that their comrade would remind them of their boundaries instead of immediately throwing them under the big yellow bus.