West Sacramento Sexual Harassment Lawyer

West Sacramento Sexual Harassment Attorney

Instances of sexual harassment at work can be extremely upsetting, as they have the power to create a hostile work environment. This can impact an individual’s career growth and cause emotional distress for years. Regardless of how minor or extensive the harassment is, the behavior is unacceptable and can be addressed by holding abusers accountable under California law. If this has happened to you, a West Sacramento sexual harassment lawyer can help.

At Fulton Law Corporation, we understand how much damage sexual harassment can cause to you as an individual and the entire culture of a workplace. Regardless of how long it has been going on, we are standing by, ready to learn about what happened and identify the top legal strategies to make it stop. We are invested in the West Sacramento community and believe in ensuring fair treatment of all who live, work, and play there.

What Are Common Signs of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?

In West Sacramento, a city of almost 56,000 residents and about 26,000 employees, harassment claims do occur. Sexual harassment at work can take many different forms, with some being extremely obvious while others are more subtle. It’s important to be able to recognize these different signs, as early identification of the behavior can help you work with an attorney and resolve the issue before matters get worse.

If you have seen any of the following while on the job, it might be time to hire a sexual harassment lawyer:

Unwelcome Physical Contact

Any physical interaction that was not explicitly asked for could qualify as an example of sexual harassment at work. Even the most minor instances that make someone uncomfortable could qualify. This includes:

• Unwanted touching, hugging, or purposefully brushing up against someone in passing
• Standing too close or invading someone’s personal space
• Persistent attempts to initiate physical contact, such as patting, grabbing, or massaging.

Even if someone engaged in any of the behaviors above before you had the chance to say no, don’t give someone permission to violate your space and comfort. Every instance of this is worthy of discussion with an attorney to see if it qualifies as sexual harassment.

Inappropriate or Sexual Comments

In addition to physically touching someone, sexual harassment can also be purely verbal. Some examples of this include:

• Making sexual jokes, innuendos, or suggestive remarks
• Comments about someone’s body, clothing, or anything related to their physical appearance
• Sexual propositions or repeatedly asking someone on a date after being declined multiple times
• Spreading rumors about someone else’s relationships or sexual activity

Explicit Messages

In today’s digital workplace, there are many more channels to communicate with other colleagues for efficiency purposes. Unfortunately, this also presents more opportunities for explicit messages to be sent, increasing the prevalence of someone’s sexual harassment.

Some clear signs this might be happening at your workplace include:

• Someone sends inappropriate or explicit images, videos, or memes
• You are receiving persistent or suggestive messages, especially after work hours
• Someone has requested a sexual favor in exchange for a work benefit, like a promotion

Quid Pro Quo Harassment

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), quid pro quo harassment is when a manager makes an employment decision, such as hiring or firing, based on someone’s submission or rejection of a sexual advance.

Some more common examples of this at work include:

• Giving someone a promotion, raise, or a better work assignment in exchange for sexual favors
• Threatening to fire or demote someone if the employee does not comply with the request
• Showing favoritism toward certain employees who comply with the sexual advances

Any leader found guilty of engaging in quid pro quo harassment has committed a serious violation of federal and West Sacramento workplace law and will be subjected to several legal consequences depending on the severity of the offense and what evidence is stacked against them.

FAQs

Q: Are There Specific Demographics More Affected by Workplace Sexual Harassment?

A: Women have tended to be the specific demographic most affected by instances of sexual harassment at work when compared to their male colleagues. Between 2018 and 2021, 78.2% of all sexual harassment charges were filed by women. This is an extremely high percentage, signaling that there is a clear gender disparity between what type of abuse individuals endure at work. These numbers could also suggest that men are less likely to report when it happens to them.

Q: What Factors Influence How Much is Awarded in a Harassment Lawsuit?

A: Both the severity and duration of sexual harassment at work will be two key factors in determining how much money you are awarded if you win a lawsuit against the perpetrator. This is because the longer the abuse goes on, the more physical and emotional harm you may be able to quantify. For example, cases of quid pro quo where job benefits were tied to sexual favors are more likely to lead to larger awards due to the clear damage the experience had on your career.

Q: Are Employers Responsible for Preventing Sexual Harassment?

A: All employers are legally required to implement several measures to prevent sexual harassment from happening in the first place. According to California regulation 2 CCR 11023, employers must create and distribute a number of harassment prevention policies and provide training to ensure everyone knows how to recognize and report the abuse if they were to experience it. This applies to clients and customers in addition to the organization’s employees.

Q: How Can Employees Report Sexual Harassment?

A: Any employee who has experienced sexual harassment on the job in West Sacramento, California has the authority to file a formal complaint with the state’s Civil Rights Department. This entity acts as a neutral party to investigate requests and see if they have merit or not. If enough evidence of harassment was found but a resolution has not been reached, this department can still file a civil complaint on behalf of the victim to try and stop the abuse from happening to anyone else.

West Sacramento Sexual Harassment Lawyer

If you have experienced sexual harassment at work and are unsure where to turn for support, call us today. Our team understands how sensitive and difficult these cases are, and we work alongside you to ensure you are protected and your voice is heard. The workplace is where you go to support your family, and when challenges arise, you deserve the same support.

See related posts:

• What Is Intersectional Harassment in the California Workplace?
• 5 Reasons to Hire a West Sacramento Sexual Harassment Law Firm for Your Cases