When sexual harassment occurs in the workplace, it has an effect on everyone involved. It can compromise a business’s integrity, employees’ productivity, and the victim’s sense of safety. Fortunately, you do not have to accept sexual harassment in silence. An Arden-Arcade sexual harassment lawyer can help you fight for the justice you deserve.
At Fulton Law Corporation, we strongly believe that everyone should be treated fairly in the workplace, with their rights upheld. When these rights are violated, it can have a negative effect on multiple people, with reputations at stake. If you have been subjected to workplace sexual harassment, Fulton Law Corporation can help you fight for your rights and hold the liable parties responsible.
Workplace sexual harassment includes unwelcome conduct that can be sexual in nature. This can include physical contact, sexual advances, and requests for sexual favors. While it is commonly believed that sexual harassment only involves sexual behavior, it actually refers to gender-based harassment. This means that if harassment occurs against a person or group of people based on their gender, even if it is not necessarily sexual, it can be considered sexual harassment.
For example, if a group of men behaved toward their female coworkers in a way that made the women uncomfortable, this could be considered harassment. Sexual harassment usually falls under the category of quid pro quo harassment or hostile work environment.
Quid pro quo means “something for something.” This means that the harasser offers something in exchange for a requested sexual favor. Because of this, only those who have authority of some kind can initiate quid pro quo. They must have the power and ability to fire, hire, promote, or demote the employee from whom they are requesting the favor.
One example of quid pro quo harassment is if a supervisor offers his employee a promotion in exchange for a dinner date at his house. This harassment also works in the negative, such as threatening termination if the employee denies the request for dinner.
Hostile work environment sexual harassment occurs when someone engages in unwelcome conduct in the workplace that affects an individual or group’s ability to perform their job duties. Unlike quid pro quo harassment, anyone can be guilty of hostile work environment harassment, including coworkers, supervisors, subordinates, and even non-employees. Examples of this kind of sexual harassment include:
Anyone of any age or gender can experience workplace sexual harassment. In addition, even those who are not directly targeted by the harassment can be affected by the offensive behavior.
A person can also experience sexual harassment from someone who is not an employee. This includes clients, contract workers, and customers. An example of this could be a delivery driver who makes sexual comments to a customer every time they make a delivery.
In Arden-Arcade, California, an employer can be held liable for third-party harassment if they knew about the harassment and did nothing to stop it. Employers have a responsibility to protect their employees from third parties by addressing the harassment, including ending the business relationship if necessary.
When it comes to workplace sexual harassment, employers have a responsibility to their employees to maintain a safe work environment to the greatest of their ability. Employers must address complaints of sexual harassment promptly, whether it is from a supervisor, employee, or third party. Refusing to do so can result in legal penalties.
Employers are also required to train their employees if the company has five or more employees in sexual harassment prevention training. There are requirements for how much training supervisors and employees must undergo and how often they must take the training.
If an employee complains about sexual harassment, employers are not permitted to retaliate against them for speaking up. In the workplace, retaliation can take the form of demotions, termination, pay cuts, negative performance reviews (especially for employees who have never received negative reviews before), or general poor treatment.
A: The experience of the attorney, the intricacy of your case, and their fee schedule all affect how much it will cost to hire a harassment lawyer. Many attorneys bill by the hour, but some might take cases on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if you win. You can talk about your case and any expenses upfront during initial consultations, which are sometimes free.
A: Depending on a number of variables, including the intensity of the harassment, emotional distress, lost income, and any punitive penalties, the worth of a workplace harassment case can vary significantly. The goal of settlements and verdicts is to fairly compensate victims. Every case is different, and the results are contingent upon the particular facts and supporting evidence.
A: Cases involving workplace harassment are usually handled by an employment attorney. Sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination are among the workplace concerns that these attorneys focus on. They can help you file a complaint or take action to pursue justice and compensation since they are knowledgeable about the state and federal laws protecting employees.
A: Documenting events and reporting them to your company in accordance with their internal policy is the first step in filing a harassment claim at work. Appeal to a state agency or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) if the issue remains unresolved. It’s essential to speak with an employment lawyer because they can help you collect evidence, walk you through the process, and represent you in court or in negotiations.
If you have suffered from workplace sexual harassment, Fulton Law Corporation can help you seek the justice you deserve. Contact us today to get started.
Learn more about what the Fulton Law Corporation can offer our clients by scheduling your free case evaluation today. Get in touch with us by filling out our online contact form.
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