NYC Sexual Harassment Attorneys representing employees in Hostile work environments
Yes, we do know what Jon Snow’s sword “Longclaw” is made of – Valyrian steel. We also know that most people use common sense and keep their internet browsing activity professional at work, I mean outside of a few Game Of Throne watchers who are at work and have found this post. Yet, despite what common sense might tell you, thousands of employees are caught every year viewing or downloading pornography in the workplace. Even if you weren’t the culprit or direct recipient, you may have been subjected to a hostile work environment because of someone else’s unsavory behavior. The question then becomes – do you have a right to file a sexual harassment lawsuit in New York City?
Hostile work environment and pornography – do I have a case?
Our New York City sexual harassment lawyers have seen quite a few sexual harassment cases over the years that involved pornography at work. Whether or not you have a viable lawsuit is a question only a qualified sexual harassment attorney in New York can answer.
More employees than you would believe watch x-rated porn while at work. In fact, some top pornography websites report that as much as 60 million or two-thirds of visits to their top free porn sites are made from office buildings. It seems that it is so rampant that 1 in every 8 internet searches on Google is for erotic or pornographic content. A poll of HR professionals in New York City have found that 66% of employee’s work computers have been found to contain porn or searches for porn. While it may seem obvious most HR departments are only now addressing this in their employee handbooks. It is against the law to allow porn in the workplace when objections have been made by an offended employee. If someone else’s pornographic viewing habits made you feel uncomfortable, threatened and violated at work, you might have cause to file a sexual harassment claim based on a hostile work environment. Here are a few examples of potential workplace pornography sexual harassment cases:
- Your co-worker watches lewd or pornographic videos at his desk, which is in plain view of your cubicle. You asked him to stop and you told your supervisor but no action was taken.
- Your boss forced you to look at pornographic images on his computer. When you told him/her to stop, they threatened to fire you.
- Your colleague keeps an obscene calendar on her desk. You’ve asked her to remove the calendar but she was hostile when you confronted her. Now, she harasses you on a daily basis by making offensive jokes.
- Your co-worker posted pornographic pictures in your cubicle.
- Your boss or co-worker emails or texts you pornographic or sexual pictures or messages.
Pornography could include videos, magazines, photographs, calendars, pictures, social media posts, and other sexually offensive materials.
To be considered for a sexual harassment lawsuit based on a hostile work environment, you must show that you suffered negative consequences as a result of the harassment. For example, you had trouble sleeping at night, your work performance suffered, or perhaps you were even terminated or demoted because you refused to go along with the “sexual joke.”
Have you been subjected to pornographic images at work?
In an NYC harassment case, many different elements may be involved – being exposed to pornography might be just one of the offending behaviors. If you have been sexually harassed in any way at work, contact an attorney right away.
Your lawyer will probably want to know a few things, like:
- What kind of imagery was involved?
- Did you ask the offender to stop?
- When did you report the behavior to your boss or HR?
- How long did the harassment last for?
- What affect did the harassment have on your personal and professional life?
Ask your New York City sexual harassment lawyer for help on how to handle the harassment and the most effective way to proceed with your claim. Remember – not just women are the victims of sexual harassment. Men can be just as affected by lewd and offensive conduct at work.
The New York City sexual harassment attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC handle a multitude of employment discrimination cases that involve sexual harassment in Manhattan and the greater New York City area. Sexual Harassment is gender-based discrimination and is illegal. For further information, please feel free to call us at 800-807-2209 for a free consultation, or click here to schedule a free consultation.
New York City Sexual Harassment Lawyers | Hostile Work Environment Attorneys | NY – NJ – PA – FL – CA
