Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance or conduct (usually on the job) that cultivates an intimidating, hostile, and/or offensive environment. There are both federal laws and state laws that protect employees from sexual harassment in the workplace. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits harassment on the federal level and most states have their own laws prohibiting sexual harassment, which can be stricter than the federal laws. Sexual harassment can be extremely stressful to deal with, and often in times of stress it is hard to think straight. Having an attorney on your side who is experienced with sexual harassment legal services can make all the difference.

Steps to Take if You Are Being Sexually Harassed

  • Confront the harasser and tell them clearly that you want to offensive behavior to stop. This is a crucial first step and it is advisable to document that interaction in case the issue escalates into you taking formal action against the harasser.
  • If confronting the harasser doesn’t stop the harassment, you need to take your complaint to the next level. Most employee handbooks have specific processes laid out for how to go about this, or you can ask your supervisor or human resources department how to proceed.
  • Continuing to document each incident and what are you doing to stop the harassment is very important and the more detail, the better. It is advisable to obtain copies of your personnel documents and performance evaluations to prepare for the possibility of your employer retaliating against you for your complaints.
  • If bringing the sexual harassment to your employer’s attention does not help, your next step is to go to a federal agency or to your state’s fair employment office.
  • Before you file a federal lawsuit, it is necessary that you file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) first. It is important to be aware of the time limits for filing a sexual harassment claim or lawsuit, so it is best to consult with an experienced sexual harassment lawyer before proceeding on your own.

Unfortunately, employees are often fired or penalized for reporting sexual harassment. An employee who resists sexual advances or objects to sexual humor in the office place can suffer consequences including being demoted, being denied a promotion, and/or economic losses. An employee who has been sexually harassed usually suffers personal injuries (physical, emotional) directly resulting from the stress of the sexual harassment. For these reasons and more, it’s truly in your best interest to obtain help from an experienced legal professional.

Related Posts
Roommate and late rent payment?
Living in a house or an apartment with a roommate can be fun, especially if that roommate is your friend. However, when your roommate pays rent late, your friendship might ...
READ MORE
The landlord’s right in evict tenants
Every state in US has the unique Rent Control Acts and this is to be protected in the right manner surely. There should indeed be a valid reason behind everything ...
READ MORE
Investing in commercial property: know the pros and cons
A commercial property, just like any other real estate, is a good investment. Examples of commercial properties include office buildings, retail buildings, industrial buildings, warehouses, apartment buildings, and properties that ...
READ MORE
How to deal with your business debts
Around 90 percent of businesses fail before they even reach ten years. And in this challenging economy, it would be normal if your business would dwindle down to failure. This ...
READ MORE
Drunk Driving
Drunk Driving is the act where in the driver drives the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is to such an extent that the person does not ...
READ MORE
Top reasons that can severely affect your landlord business
There are mistakes that will definitely affect your landlord business and these are what you should avoid. 1.Tenant discrimination intentionally or unintentionally. This warrants a one-way ticket to a legal proceeding. ...
READ MORE
The real estate law and the tips to purchase real estate
The Real Estate Law is indeed extensive and this is not possible for a layman to know each and every memorandum of the law. Thus, if you are planning to ...
READ MORE
What to do when your tenant doesn't pay rent
The landlord has the right to evict the tenant especially when the tenant hasn't paid the rent on full and on time. However, the landlord has no right to evict ...
READ MORE
While choosing tenants, avoid Fair Housing Complaints and Lawsuits
There are Federal and State laws that promote antidiscrimination where you as a landlord have certain limitations with the things you should say & do when selecting a tenant. If ...
READ MORE
Punishments And Penalties for DUI/DWI
No crime goes unpunished. No other crime in the US gets more offenders behind bars than Driving Under the Influence or Driving While Intoxicated offenses. Laws per state vary but ...
READ MORE
Roommate and late rent payment?
The landlord’s right in evict tenants
Investing in commercial property: know the pros and
How to deal with your business debts
Drunk Driving
Top reasons that can severely affect your landlord
The real estate law and the tips to
What to do when your tenant doesn’t pay
While choosing tenants, avoid Fair Housing Complaints and
Punishments And Penalties for DUI/DWI