Sexual harassment has many different forms, and it is often difficult to know how to handle the situation. It is human nature to want to fight back, but at the same time, this may not be your best option as a sexual harassment lawyer will have more experience with these types of cases. You may not even realize that you have may have been sexually harassed. Many people don’t know they’ve been exposed to a situation that constitutes sexual harassment until it’s too late, so it’s essential to know how long ago the incident took place so you can speak with an attorney about your rights as soon as possible. In this article, we’ll take a look at some things to remember when going up against a harasser (or harasser’s) in a sexual harassment case.
A sexual harassment lawyer specifically handles these types of sexual harassment cases as part of their routine work. Not only do these lawyers have years of experience defending their clients, but they can also be more familiar with the specific needs of your particular area (we’ll use Los Angeles as an example for this article). They also generally have a great deal of experience with the local governments and enforcement agencies, which is essential.
In most instances, however, you might have been exposed to workplace sexual harassment when:
If you feel as if you are being harassed in the workplace, you should immediately contact your manager/supervisor to let them know you plan to take the necessary steps to report it to the company’s human resource department. Many states have anti-harassment and equal employment opportunity laws requiring employers to address any reported sexual harassment situation promptly. When harassment is reported, employers are obligated to take swift action to prevent more harm from occurring.
Second, When the victim of sexual harassment is in a public sector position, it’s crucial to quickly report these incidents to supervisors or other authorities. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Human Resources are governmental organizations that can offer support and advice for victims of sexual harassment at work. You will need to go through the proper channels to ensure that you receive adequate consequences for your actions. Most others who have been through similar situations recommend using a sexual harassment lawyer to get everything done right. This is a beneficial resource if you are a victim of this crime in our next section; the private sector.
A third scenario may occur in the private sector. What if you work in an office where people are continually coming on to you? Sexual harassment is not always what it seems. If someone makes sexual advances towards you or repeatedly makes sexually suggestive comments, this might be considered a hostile work environment violation. It doesn’t matter how often the comment was made; just one instance could constitute a violation. But sexual harassment and hostile work environment violations are two different offenses, which means that even though someone may have experienced both of them, they can still do something about the former without being penalized for the latter.
In a hostile work environment, one person’s behavior creates an uncomfortable atmosphere that makes another employee feel discriminated against. For example, if you’re a male attorney who’s working as an associate practicing in a white-collar law firm and your male coworker repeatedly calls you “gay,” they could be accused of hostile workplace conduct in violation of the ADA.
Another common form is known as “Quid Pro Quo”. Quid Pro Quo (or “pay for sex”) harassment is a form of sexual harassment that occurs when employees engage in any act, contact, or conversation, either before or after employment. This type of sexual harassment is where an employee offers a payment or benefit to another coworker in return for them engaging in some sort of sexual activity with the employer.
When you’re discriminated against in the workplace, it can be challenging to know your recourse. It’s important to remember many other types of discrimination besides sexual harassment and race-based discrimination. Mothers who’ve faced sexual harassment at the office might be entitled to damages based on the emotional trauma they endured. The disabled community or those subjected to frequent or severe verbal attacks might have a case as well.
If you think that you have been a victim of this type of action, contact qualified attorneys today. These lawyers specialize in this type of case and know how to approach employers and their legal departments. They can help you understand your legal rights, as well as provide direction for how to proceed. Often, victims are not aware they have a case until the employer offers them money to avoid going public with the details of their experience.
The feeling of being harassed at work is a horrendous one, especially when you have to see your harasser every day. A good legal team on your side can help make sure that the situation has justice served. Having a strong sense of justice, many lawyers choose to take on these cases because they believe it is their responsibility to protect the rights of those who are victims of this type of workplace abuse. With so many laws against discrimination due to sexual orientation in the workplace, there is no reason that this behavior should continue without any consequences.
Sexual harassment is a problem happening to many people these days. Whether it’s from someone at work, a friend or family member, or even just another person you know that may need help. Contact qualified Los Angeles sexual harassment attorneys right away to discuss your case and get some solutions. You’ll be relieved when you find out what your legal options are.