Sexual Harassment Lawyer in California

Consult with a Sexual Harassment Lawyer

The first step in addressing any problems in the workplace is to speak to human resources or managers if anything is wrong at work. This can be the most successful way to deal with the situation and put an end to the actions. However, employers often fail to act. In other situations, reporting abuse to the supervisor may be troublesome, or the supervisor may be the harassing party. In these conditions, you can contact a lawyer who will guide you in protecting your rights and taking legal action to stop the harassment.

Litigation in these situations is almost always the last resort. Ideally, your lawyer will help you ensure that your employer takes the required disciplinary steps. If your employer fails to act properly, we have the expertise and experience to advocate for your interests in court.

What is Sexual Harassment?

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) handles workplace sexual harassment claims at the federal level and identifies sexual harassment as any remarks, actions, statements, demands or other verbal acts of a sexual nature that make the workplace threatening, offensive or hostile.

Sexual harassment may include:

  • An actual or attempted rape or sexual assault.
  • Requests or pressure for sexual favors.
  • Unwanted deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, or groping. This can include kissing, hugging, patting or stroking.
  • Unwanted sexual looks or gestures. Including licking lips, winking, blowing kisses and other facial expressions.
  • Sexual remarks, jokes, or questions.
  • Unwanted letters, telephone calls, or materials of a sexual nature.
  • Pressure for dates, especially if repeated.
  • Whistling at or cat calling someone.
  • Turning work discussions to sexual topics.
  • Sexual innuendos.
  • Stories of a sexual or suggestive nature.
  • Sexually suggestive hand or body movements.
  • Personal questions about social or sexual life, including sexual preference or sexual history.
  • Sexual comments about a person’s clothing, body, or looks.
  • Unwanted neck or back massage.
  • Purposefully standing close to or brushing up against a person.
  • Touching an employee’s clothing, hair, or body without their consent.
  • Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person.
  • Elevator eyes.
  • Among many, many others.

In addition to the behavior, several criteria qualify an incident as a case of sexual harassment:

  • The behavior in question must be unwelcome.
  • The sexes of the offender and the victim are irrelevant. Victims and harassers may be of the same sex or opposite sexes.
  • The harasser may be a coworker, third-party non-employee, supervisor, or member of another area of the organization.
  • Unlawful sexual harassment does not require economic injury to the victim or discharge from employment to qualify for legal action.
  • The victim may not be the recipient of the harassing behavior, but anyone who witnesses the behavior and feels affected by it.

Protecting Your Rights

You have the right not to be sexually harassed at work. If you’re going to make a claim, you may need to get the paperwork for your complaints. This may provide written documentation of what happened to you.

We’re going to guide you through the steps you need to take. We will also instruct you on how to make any more reports of your sexual abuse. We know how to deal with these situations and protect your rights.

If harassment led to your firing or forced you to leave your job, you may be able to collect compensation for your missed time from work. The same applies if an employer retaliated in the form of reduced hours, cut pay, or unpaid suspension. Sexual harassers and employers may also face liability for a harassment victim’s psychological distress and fear experienced in the workplace.

Victims of sexual harassment in California need legal counsel they can rely upon to handle their CRD and EEOC claims as well as their civil actions against the responsible parties.

Contact Potter Handy, LLP if you have been the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace. Our sexual harassment lawyers will aggressively fight for your interests at every step.

Call (415) 534-1911 or email us to schedule a free, confidential consultation.