Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Former Sex Crimes Prosecutors Getting Justice for Victims of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace for Over 25 Years.
As a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, you are likely feeling angry, ashamed, embarrassed, and confused about who you can trust. You want to believe you can trust your employers, supervisors, managers, and coworkers to treat you like the respected person you are. Yet, when those people have sexually harassed you, your level of trust is violated almost beyond repair.
The good news is that the law protects you against sexual harassment at work. You have the right to work in an environment where people respect your personal space, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. When our employer violates those rights, you have the right to fight back without the fear of retaliation or wrongful termination.
You deserve an attorney who knows the law and will use that knowledge to help you stand up for your rights in the workplace. You deserve an advocate to stand by your side and fight against sexual harassment at work. The sexual harassment lawyers at the Derek Smith Law Group are the advocates you need to stand by your side and fight for your rights.
What Is Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. It occurs when an employee or job applicant experiences unwelcome sexual contact, comments, or advances. Anyone can sexually harass you in the workplace, including your employer, CEO, supervisor, manager, coworker, client, customer, vendor, or nonemployee.
Sexual harassment can occur in the workplace, at off-site events, or even online. If you think you experienced sexual harassment, contact an experienced sexual harassment lawyer to help you develop your claim.
What Types of Claims Can You File for Workplace Sexual Harassment?
There are two types of workplace sexual harassment claims:
Quid Pro Quo: A quid pro quo claim is when an employee or job applicant is promised advancements in the workplace by an employer, CEO, supervisor, or manager in exchange for sexual favors.
Some examples may include:
- The interview promises you the job if you allow her to kiss you.
- Your coworker promises he will allow you to help him on a lucrative project if you go on a date with him. You refused his date requests in the past.
- Your supervisor promises you a raise if you engage in sexual activity with her.
- Your employer says you will get a promotion if you do not tell anyone that she tried to seduce you.
- Your CEO promises you a corner office if you sleep with him.
Hostile Work Environment: A hostile work environment claim occurs when the sexual comments, advances, and contact us so frequent and pervasive, it intimidates you and prevents you from conducting daily work activities.
Examples of a hostile work environment claim include:
- Your coworker distributes daily sexual comics via email.
- Your employer insists all women wear short skirts and tight blouses to work daily.
- Your supervisor massages your neck every time he passes your desk.
- Your CEO stares at your chest whenever he speaks with you, even after you have asked him to stop.
- Your boss fires you because you refuse to go on a date with her.
- Your client constantly tells you that she “likes her men thick and accessible” as she grabs your backside.
- Your boss demotes you because you reported that she tried to kiss you.
- Your manager talks about the “good old days when women stayed barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.”
Sexual Harassment Cases We Handle:
- Hostile Work Environment
- Quid Pro Quo
- Unwelcome Request For Sex
- Sexism in the Workplace
- Sexual Bribery
- Sexual Gift-Giving at Work
- Sexual Harassment by a Supervisor
- Workplace Sexual Coercion
- Non-Employee Sexual Harassment
- Gay and Lesbian Sexual Harassment
- Sexual Harassment at Off-Site Events
- Stalking in the Workplace
- Criminal Sexual Conduct
- Sexual Joking
- Co-Worker Sexual Harassment
- Sexual Orientation Harassment
- Unwanted Physical Contact
- Same-Sex Sexual Harassment
- Sexual Harassment at Office Holiday Parties
- Sexual Harassment By The CEO
- Sexual Harassment by a Manager
- Sexual Harassment by the Owner
- Online Sexual Harassment
- Fashion Industry Sexual Assault
- Pornography / Offensive Pictures at Work
What Laws Protect You from Sexual Harassment at Work?
Federal and state laws prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides federal protections to employees and job applicants against sex discrimination and sexual harassment. Employees can file claims under Title VII if they work for an employer with 15 or more employees.
Many states also provide state-level protections for employees and job applicants dealing with workplace sexual harassment. Depending on your state, the protections may help employees working for companies with one employee to 15 employees or more.
Contact a knowledgeable sexual harassment lawyer to determine the laws in your state best suited for your claim.
Do the Laws Protect You from Online Sexual Harassment at Work?
Sexual harassment laws protect employees from sexual harassment in any work-related space. Work-related spaces can include remote workplaces. Therefore, sexual harassment laws can protect you from online sexual harassment as well.
Online sexual harassment occurs when an employer, coworker, supervisor, or client uses online resources, such as text messaging, email, social media, and online meeting spaces, to attack you with unwanted sexual comments and advances.
Examples of online sexual harassment may include the following:
- Sexting
- Sexual bullying
- Cyberstalking
- Displaying sexually explicit images and videos
- Taking photos of you
- Revenge Porn
- Suggestive letters, notes, or emails
- Inappropriate sexual gestures
- Showing pornography
- Making Sexually colored remarks
- Sexual jokes, gestures, and comments
- Spreading or posting sexual or degrading emails or pictures around the workplace
Can Sexual Harassment Laws Protect You Against Sexual Harassment at Off-Site Work Events?
If you attend a work-related event, a business lunch, or attend a meeting at a client’s office, workplace sexual harassment laws apply. Therefore, Title VII protects you when sexually harassed at any off-site work event.
Off-site work events may include the following:
- Workplace holiday parties
- Workplace training events
- Workplace barbeques and picnics
- Client meetings
- Business networking events
- Company luncheons
- Vendor meetings
To learn more about your rights regarding company events off-site, contact the experienced sexual harassment lawyers at the Derek Smith Law Group. They can help you determine whether the law covers your ordeal. If it is, they will help you fight for your rights under the law.
When Should You File Your Workplace Sexual Harassment Claim?
You should file Title VII claims with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days of the event’s date. If you plan to file your claim in a state with a state-wide workplace sexual-harassment law, you have a statute of limitations of 300 days to file your claim with the EEOC.
State laws may offer more time to file your sexual harassment claim. Some states allow employees and job applicants more than three years to file their claims with the appropriate state agency or court.
An experienced sexual harassment attorney can help ensure you file your claim within the proper time limit based on your state’s laws.
What Are Your Rights Regarding Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
Both federal and local or state laws protect you from sexual harassment in the workplace. If you have reported the incident to human resources and they do nothing, you have the right to file a claim or a lawsuit against your employer and others involved.
The courts do not look kindly on sexual harassment in the workplace. Therefore, you may be issued some of the following remedies:
- Reinstatement of employment
- Removal of harasser the harasser from the workplace
- Revamping company policies and procedures
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages
The skilled sexual harassment attorneys and former sex-crimes prosecutors at the Derek Smith Law Group are here to help you fight for your rights in local or federal courts and help you get the compensation you deserve.
How Can a Sexual Harassment Lawyer Help Your Case?
Working with a sexual harassment lawyer can help ensure your case runs as smoothly as possible. At the same time, they can help ensure you file your claims within the proper time limits allowed by law. They can also help negotiate a settlement to end your claim as quickly as possible and help you move on from the horrific ordeal.
When you work with a qualified sexual harassment attorney, they can contact your employer before filing your claim to attempt to settle the claim quickly and fairly. Some employers may agree to a fair and equitable settlement to keep from a long, drawn-out legal process and potential negative publicity.
Furthermore, your lawyer can help ensure you understand the differences between state and federal legal rules. Once you know your rights under the varied set of laws, you can move forward with your claim under the proper laws and related procedures. Your attorney can ensure you do not miss the statute of limitations or discovery deadlines so your employer cannot ask for a dismissal due to missed deadlines and incorrect procedures.
Contact Our Experienced Team of Sexual Harassment Attorneys Today for Your Free Consultation
As a victim of sexual harassment, you need to know who to contact and who you can trust. The experienced sexual harassment attorneys and former sex-crimes prosecutors at the Derek Smith Law Group have helped victims just like you in Philadelphia, New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and New Jersey fight the injustice they endured at the hands of their employers. We can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Are You the Victim of Sexual Harassment at Work? Do You Have Questions About Your Rights in the Workplace? Please Contact Us at 800.807.2209 or Email Us at Derek@dereksmithlaw.com with Your Questions.