Sexual harassment laws prohibit sexual harassment at the workplace. As a result, no employee should experience, endure, or tolerate sexual harassment in a work environment of any nature. If you are a victim of sexual intimidation, sexual harassment, or unwanted sexual advancements, you can file a sexual harassment lawsuit against your perpetrator. Sexual harassment attorneys from Limonjyan Law Group can help with your legal options.
Despite increased attention, sexual harassment is still a very real problem in the workplace.
People of all gender identifications may experience sexual harassment and it is important to hold employers accountable for these types of unlawful workplace behaviors.
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Have You Experienced Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
At Limonjyan Law Group, our lawyer is committed to protecting the rights of employees.
Reporting sexual harassment in the workplace can be extremely intimidating, especially if you’re scared of retaliation from your employer or harasser. At Limonjyan Law Group, we have the experience you need to confidently report your sexual harassment claim and bring the harasser to justice.
If you believe that you are the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, call our offices at (213) 277-7444.
What Is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment can be defined as any unwelcome sexual advances which include verbal and physical conduct without someone’s consent. Experiencing sexual harassment at the workplace can make you feel powerless, intimidated, embarrassed, and unsafe. At its best, sexual harassment can undermine your confidence and self-esteem; hence you should never ignore it.
But how do you recognize sexual harassment? Sometimes it is not easy to tell what qualifies as sexual harassment at work. This is because it varies widely based on the situation and circumstances around the occurrence. Some behaviors or actions, though inappropriate, do not certainly qualify as sexual harassment. The main forms of sexual harassment are:
Hostile Work Environment
This is the most common type of workplace sexual harassment. In most cases, a hostile work environment is created when unwanted conduct or comments based on sex unreasonably affects your performance at work. A colleague, supervisor, manager, or employer can make you experience this form of harassment.
In addition, sexual harassment can occur due to a workplace culture of unappealing and inappropriate behavior. Common examples of conducts that can comprise an intimidating work environment include:
- Demanding sexual favors
- Repeated, unwanted sexual advances and/or physical contact
- Telling sexual jokes (written or verbal)
- Sending sexual messages, pictures, cartoons, and other forms of literature and graphics that are sexually explicit
- Using inappropriate language
- Making unnecessary physical contact, such as rubbing against a coworker
- Use of slurs
- Spreading sexual rumors
- Reprisal (threatening to punish or fire an employee if they decline your sexual advances)
As an employee, you have the right to a safe work environment, but if your harasser negatively impacts your work, you can file a claim against them. The actions that can cause a hostile work environment include making repeated sexual advances or making sexual jokes or comments that leave you feeling threatened. In worst-case scenarios, hostile work environments are also caused by isolated incidents like rape or sexual assault.
Quid Pro Quo – “this for that”
The most common types of sexual harassment in the workplace are “quid pro quo” insinuating that if you provide any sort of sexual favors or comply with any sort of sexual advances your employer or co-worker can use that to leverage promotions, job retention, job terminations or other actions that might effect your employment.
Quid Pro Quo occurs when a superior employee or employer offers you a promotion, job, or other benefits on the condition that you accept their sexual demands. In this scenario, a superior uses their position to solicit sexual advances from an employee eager to make a good impression. This form of harassment can also come with a threat that you will be fired if you turn down their sexual advances.
What Should You Do if You Are Being Sexually Harassed?
Suppose you believe you have been fired because you launched a sexual harassment claim against your employer. In that case, you may have a right to file a wrongful termination lawsuit asking for compensation for emotional pain and monetary damages.
If you are unsure of the situation but believe that you have been harassed and you have been terminated as a result, a good place to start is to speak with a sexual harassment attorney. You can contact Ruben Limonjyan, a sexual harassment attorney from Limonjyan Law Group, for help. You can also visit our office or call us at 213-277-7444 for a free consultation.
If you are experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, you should take steps to make it clear that you consider the offensive conduct to be unwanted and that it must stop. You should also report the harassment to your human resources department or through your employer’s grievance system.
If the harassment continues after you have taken these steps, you should contact a sexual harassment lawyer.
How do I prove that my employer engaged in sexual harassment?
Being unable to prove that sexual harassment took place is one of the reasons why so many cases of sexual harassment go unreported or get dismissed. There are things that are needed to begin proving that your employer or co-worker engaged in unwanted sexual situations with you or harassed you in anyway. The following things can be used to prove your employer or co-worker harassed you:
- Misconduct against you was done on the basis of sex
- Any conduct against you was unwelcome either verbally or physically
- Conduct against you is severe or continuous
- Any conduct against you is considered objectively or subjectively offensive
- Damages occurred due to misconduct
What are my options if I decide to file a sexual harassment complaint against my employer?
If you’ve experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, it might be hard to know what your options are going forward.
- Inform Your Employer: After familiarizing yourself with your company’s sexual harassment policy, you should make a point to inform your employer about misconduct. If your employer is the harasser, take it up with human resources or with an attorney.
- File a Complaint: As a California employee, you can file a sexual harassment complaint with the DFEH. The DFEH will then communicate this complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. While this is going on, you should start seeking legal counsel if you haven’t already.
- File a Lawsuit: Once you’ve received the go-ahead from the DFEH, you can file a sexual harassment claim against your employer.
Contact Our Los Sexual Harassment Attorney For Help
We can help determine whether you have a strong case for sexual harassment. To schedule a free consultation, call us at (213) 277-7444 or contact us online. In addition to English, we speak Spanish, Russian, and Armenian, and we provide representation to workers throughout Southern California.