Both federal and California laws protect individuals from sexual harassment in the workplace. However, despite these laws, sexual harassment still happens.
If you have been a victim of sexual harassment at work, it is critical that you take action. At King & Siegel LLP, we have experienced sexual harassment lawyers who can help you stand up for your legal rights against harassment. Our firm has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients who experienced injustices at work, and we are available to take on your case as well.
In this article, we will discuss what sexual harrassment is, and we will talk about the laws that protect you against sexual harassment in California. In addition, if you have been sexually harassed at work, we will go over how our attorneys can help you.
So, What Is Sexual Harassment?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines sexual harassment as unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment can include “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.”
However, sexual harassment does not necessarily have to be sexual in nature. It can also refer to harassment based on a person’s sex. For instance, making derogatory remarks about, women, in general is sexual harassment.
There is an important distinction between harassment and isolated incidents. Offhand comments and teasing that occur infrequently are not considered sexual harassment. However, when this type of behavior is so frequent that it creates a hostile work environment, most courts would consider this to rise to the level of sexual harassment.
Examples of Workplace Sexual Harassment
Some of the most common examples of sexual harassment in the workplace include the following:
- Making unwelcome sexual advances against a colleague;
- Using sexually explicit or suggestive language in the workplace;
- Making derogatory comments about a person’s body or appearance;
- Offering benefits, such as salary increases or promotions, in exchange for sexual favors;
- Making threats or retaliating against an employee who complains about sexual harassment;
- Discriminating against someone based on their gender identity;
- Using social media, text messages, or electronic communications to make unwelcome sexual advances; and
- Creating a hostile work environment through sexual comments or gestures.
This is not an exhaustive list. If you have been a victim of any type of sexual harassment in the workplace, you should contact our Pasadena sexual harassment lawyers as soon as possible. We can help you assess whether what happened to you violates sexual harassment laws, and we can help you seek justice.
How Can A Sexual Harassment Lawyer Help?
If you have been a victim of workplace sexual harassment, a lawyer can help you with the following:
- Filing a legal claim against the at-fault party,
- Understanding your legal rights and responsibilities,
- Gathering evidence of the harassment,
- Negotiating a settlement,
- Maximizing the amount of compensation that you may be entitled to receive, and
- Representing you in court if necessary.
When choosing an attorney to represent you in a sexual harassment case, you will want to ensure that the attorney has experience in these matters. The Pasadena sexual harassment attorneys at King & Siegel LLP have over a decade of experience dealing with sexual harassment cases and can also help you.
Types of Damages in a Sexual Harassment Case
In general, there are two types of damages that you may be able to recover in a sexual harassment case: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Losses
Some examples of economic damages include:
- Costs of medicine,
- Costs of therapy or treatment,
- Doctor’s visit expenses,
- Lost wages, and
- Job search fees and related costs.
You must find your receipts, invoices, and pay records related to the above expenses to calculate economic damages. This will give you an amount for your past and current direct monetary losses. Your attorney can help you calculate future losses for which you might need compensation because once you sign a settlement, you cannot return for more money later—regardless of how much your injury costs.
Non-Economic Losses
You may also be entitled to non-economic damages. The intention behind these damages is to compensate the victim for intangible losses that are harder to calculate. Some examples of non-economic damages that a sexual harassment victim can recover include the following:
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress,
- Inconvenience damages, and
- Harm to reputation.
An experienced Pasadena sexual harassment attorney can ensure that you get the most amount of compensation possible through your sexual harassment claim.
King & Siegel LLP Is Here for You
At King & Siegel LLP, we believe that everybody has a right to earn a living free from sexual harassment, discrimination, and unfair treatment. Our firm is dedicated to helping victims who have experienced injustice in the workplace and we are here to help you.
Because we know how stressful sexual harassment can be and how it can impact someone’s financial stability, we work on a contingent basis. This means that you don’t have to pay any legal fees upfront, and you only pay us if and when we win your case. If we don’t win, you don’t have to pay us. In addition, we offer free consultations to all of our potential clients. To reach out to our office, you can contact us online or by phone. There are important legal deadlines to meet in every sexual harassment case, so please do not hesitate to reach out today!