Sexual Harassment Lawyers

In the case of someone who has experienced sexual harassment or abusive behavior by a colleague, sexual harassment lawyers provide legal consultations to anyone who has experienced such behavior. As well as advising you on how to report sexual harassment, lawyers for sexual harassment will also guide you through the official steps that need to be followed.

sexual harassment lawyers

Sexual Harassment

Legally speaking, sexual harassment is considered a kind of sex discrimination. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is broken by sexism. The Supreme Court did not include sexual harassment in the workplace in its definition of sex discrimination until the late 1980s.[1] Following the decision, it is now illegal to harass a person, a job applicant, or an employee based on gender.

You are entitled to a workplace free from sexual harassment. You have the right to be evaluated on the merits of both your character and your body of work.

Cases Of Sexual Harassment?

There are many types of sexual harassment, some of which are pretty subtle. This allows businesses to defend themselves against accusations of sexual harassment even when particular employees or executives have made the lives of others miserable.

The two primary forms of sexual harassment at work

Quid Pro Quo

The Latin expression quid pro quo means “something for something” in English. Quid pro quo, a form of sexual harassment, is the practice of offering sexual favors in exchange for a gain (like a promotion) or avoiding a disadvantage (for example, not getting fired).

Quid pro quo sexual harassment is frequently committed by those in positions of authority against a subordinate in the workplace, such as a supervisor and a less experienced worker. It is also possible for the trade to be hinted at or suggested rather than being explicit. An illustration of a quid pro quo is:

  • Threatening to rescind a chance or a job if the target rejects sexual advances
  • Stalling an increase in salary or promotion until the victim consents to sexual activity.
  • Requesting sexual favors in exchange for employment, advancement, or other possibilities.
  • Forcing a worker to accept unwanted sexual advances

Hostile Work Environment

Any act of sexual harassment at work that turns the workplace hostile is considered to fall under this category. The victim does not need to be the one who is being harassed directly. As a result, even if you are not the target of the sexual harassment episode, you can still suffer from a hostile work environment. The perpetrator might also be anyone, including bosses, coworkers, clients, and supervisors.

Sending pornographic images, unwanted touching, rude jokes, obscene gestures, and statements of a sexual nature are all examples of sexual harassment that can create uncomfortable work settings.[2] Additional claims of sexual harassment leading to a hostile workplace include the following:

  • Sexually explicit jokes or offensive remarks that are crass, graphic, or of a sexual character.
  • Sending sexually suggestive photos, texts, emails, or memos.
  • Sexually suggestive physical behavior that is not welcome, such as touching, grabbing, embracing, or rubbing.

Taking Action Against Harassment

It’s not necessary to just put up with sexual harassment. If you have been a victim of sexual harassment, you should get assistance. Sexual harassment is illegal under both state and federal laws.

The laws of your state and neighborhood will decide the legal options open to you. Still, the courts can typically assist a victim of sexual harassment by

  • Paying damages in the event of economic harm (such as lost wages)
  • Compensating for emotional sorrow and pain
  • If it is discovered that the employee’s position was terminated due to sexual harassment, the employer must order the employee’s reinstatement

Examples of Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment occurs when an individual receives unwanted sexual advances or other actions that include sex and negatively impact them or their work environment. There are many types of sexual harassment, some of which are not obvious at first.

The following are a few examples of common forms of sexual harassment that happen at work:

  • An employee’s promise to refrain from becoming pregnant or engaging in other sexually explicit behavior or that their job would not be terminated or delayed in exchange for their sexual behavior
  • The uttering of insulting remarks about a person’s perceived or actual gender or sexual orientation
  • Making derogatory remarks about a particular gender group
  • Unwanted advances made by coworkers or the employer in a sexual manner
  • Comments made about or to a worker that is sexual
  • Images with explicit sexual content being posted or disseminated in the workplace

Work Sexual Harassment Lawyer Representing Victims

Lawyers for sexual harassment in the workplace know the significance of preventing the harasser from harassing others in the future. Sexual harassment victims are protected by state law, and lawyers for sexually harassed represent those who work in a sexually hostile atmosphere.

Speak with a harassment lawyer right away if you’ve been subjected to sexual harassment at work to learn how you can move past the incident and heal. You will know more about your rights when you speak with work sexual harassment lawyers if you are or were an employee and wish to claim sexual harassment.

When it comes to sexual harassment at work, gender is irrelevant. Whether you are a guy or a woman has no bearing. Both the harasser and the victim can be male or female. 

You may experience retaliation if you file a sexual harassment claim against your employer,, a workplace harassment lawyer can help. An employee who experiences sexual harassment at work is frequently reluctant to disclose it for fear of being fired, demoted, or subjected to other unfavorable consequences.

Keep in mind that most states and federal laws forbid companies from firing workers for reporting sexual harassment and other illegal workplace behavior. Workplace sexual harassment lawyers protect you from unfavorable or illegal treatment, including retribution.

Sexual harassment At Work: Long-Term Consequences And Effects

It could be challenging for a current or former employee to discuss the emotional wounds caused by sexual harassment or assault. Even so, the injury is still very much there. But with planning, perseverance, and acceptance, your harassment lawyer should:

  • Pay attention to you and take notes.
  • Assist you in telling your tale.
  • Try their best to hold the business and the harasser responsible.

Every victim of sexual harassment suffers an emotional loss due to the incident. The loss could also involve emotional discomfort, sadness, anxiety, shame, and loss of enjoyment of life.

These losses are severe and might appear physically as

  • Heartache
  • Anger
  • Sadness
  • Sleep-loss
  • Disruption of appetite
  • Hypervigilance
  • Difficulty focusing 
  • Self-isolation
  • Attacks of anxiety or panic
  • Depression
lawyers for sexual harassment

How A Lawyer Can Help

Before deciding what, if anything, to do when you encounter harassing behavior at work, you may have some questions that need to be addressed. These inquiries include:

  • Was this even harassment in the legal sense of the word?
  • What should I say to the harasser in return?
  • Do I need to report the harassment?
  • Is there anything I can do to safeguard myself from harassment in the future?
  • What can I do to stop my employer from taking adverse action against me after I report the behavior?

A harassment lawyer with experience can provide answers to these queries.

Before You Report Sexual Harassment, Consult With A Lawyer

Even if you are the target of harassment, you might still need to take some action to safeguard your rights. For instance, to hold your employer accountable for any harassment, the policy of your workplace (or even the law) may compel you to inform human resources or administrative staff of any potential sexual harassment. (Take note that the law does not need that you report the harassment to hold the employer accountable for it if the harasser is a manager.) You can find the appropriate HR representative or other employees to whom you should report potential harassment with the assistance of expert workplace sexual harassment lawyers. You can collaborate with a lawyer to develop a detailed account of the harassing behavior. This will ensure you present all pertinent material calmly and clearly, even if you feel apprehensive while discussing the conduct with HR or a manager, which is only reasonable.

How The Lawyers For Sexual Harassment Help You

Sexual harassment lawyers will offer guidance on other measures you can take to protect yourself in addition to helping you get ready to report harassment. These actions could entail the following:

Documenting Any Harassment And All Conversations With Your Employer

A harassment lawyer will do the following:

  • Get you ready to handle the harasser if the harassment persists
  • Advise you on how to inform your employer of any upcoming harassment
  • Keep an eye on your employer’s response to your complaint to ensure they don’t take any adverse action against you.

Having to deal with harassment at work might make it challenging to formulate a thoughtful response. An employee who has experienced sexual harassment could be too emotionally exhausted and bewildered to see things as they were to respond firmly. You should consult lawyers for sexually harassed to determine the best action.

Support During The Harassment Investigation

The law requires your employer to look into any allegations of sexual harassment. Additionally, during the investigation, your employer is prohibited from taking any actions that could harm your employment.[3] A knowledgeable harassment attorney should check in with you during the investigation to ensure that the employer is acting in accordance with the law’s requirements. 

Retaliation

By law, employers cannot retaliate against workers who report sexual harassment. Retaliation can take many different forms and is not only limited to being disciplined or fired (although those actions certainly may be retaliation). When you report harassment, your superiors might reject you for desirable tasks or ban you from gatherings, activities, or even social outings as retaliation. A lawyer can examine these actions to see whether they are retaliatory.

Consider Filing A Complaint

Work sexual harassment lawyers will also outline the official steps to report sexual harassment. The attorney can also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of doing so and the advantages and downsides of suing your employer if you are not pleased with how it handled your sexual harassment complaint.

Conclusion

Your potential case will be evaluated by sexual harassment lawyers based on the proof you have for these crucial elements mentioned above. So, despite your conviction that you were the victim of sexual harassment at work, the law is very clear about what constitutes sexual harassment. 

Reference

[1] Know Your Rights “Sex Discrimination” American Civil Liberties Union,  2022

[2] Examples Of Sexual Harassment “Sexual Harassment Examples” Get Impactly Inc., 2022

[3] KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK “Sexual Harassment” Equal Rights Advocates, 2022