Bakersfield Hostile Work Environment Lawyer

Facing a hostile work environment can make doing your job impossible and dreadful. If you are being made to feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or targeted while at work, you could be dealing with a hostile work environment. No employee deserves to be harassed, intimidated, or discriminated against at work. Individuals in this position have rights and legal options.

Contact our Bakersfield hostile work environment lawyer if you need assistance standing up to a toxic employer or co-worker. Our experienced team at Levin & Nalbandyan Trial Lawyers could assist you in holding your employer accountable and seeking the compensation you deserve.

When Does a Work Environment Become Hostile?

A typical workplace may involve a difficult boss or rude coworkers. But a work environment reaches the level of hostility when harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation is severe or ongoing, and it makes it impossible to do the job. Some examples of a hostile work environment include:

• Offensive comments, jokes, or slurs
• Sexual harassment, unwelcome advances, or inappropriate physical touching
• Threats, intimidation, or bullying
• Retaliation for reporting misconduct or participating in investigations

Our attorneys in Bakersfield could help an individual dealing with a difficult work situation determine whether what they are experiencing is, in fact, a hostile work environment. If an employer is harsh and difficult to work with but treats all employees equally, the behavior may just be undesirable but not constitute a hostile work environment according to the law.

Employees are Legally Protected from Such Harassment

Laws in the State of California and the United States protect workers from hostile work environments. California has some of the most legal protections for workers in the U.S. Under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, employers with at least five employees can be held responsible for harassment and discrimination. Federal law in the U.S. also protects workers from hostile work environments. However, the federal protections only apply to employers with 15 or more employees, and the requirements are stricter than those provided in state law.

Our team of lawyers has an in-depth knowledge of employment laws at every level and could utilize it to ensure a person in Bakersfield has every possible legal protection applied in their hostile work environment case. For example, if an individual works at a company with ten employees, the protection under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act would not be invoked, but California’s law would cover that employer because of the broader legal coverage.

What Should an Individual Do in a Hostile Work Environment?

An individual experiencing a hostile work environment can take steps to protect themselves and begin the process of securing justice. Hostile work environments can be made by ongoing misconduct, so keeping a detailed record of all contributing incidents, no matter how small, is important. Write down dates, times, locations, who said or did what, and more. Save any communication or other information that demonstrates the misconduct.

Follow company policies for reporting the issue and include a written report, even if the company’s guidelines do not call for it. The best-case scenario is that the employer responds to this report promptly with an investigation and effectively addresses the behavior. If this does not happen, our hostile work environment lawyer in Bakersfield could assist a person in filing a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the California Civil Rights Department. We can represent an individual’s best interests in negotiations and trial if the previous attempts for resolution are unsuccessful.

Reach Out to a Hostile Work Environment Attorney in Bakersfield for Help

Dealing with a hostile environment at work can have a severe effect on a person’s personal and professional life. Whether the mistreatment comes in the form of intimidation, harassment, or discrimination, it is illegal. Our Bakersfield hostile work environment lawyers are experienced in handling employment law matters and could assist you in your pursuit of justice.

We could help with internal reporting, filing formal complaints against an employer, and representing you in negotiations or at trial if necessary. We could also help you seek compensation for lost wages and benefits, health-related bills, and emotional distress.

Contact Levin & Nalbandyan Trial Lawyers to discuss your legal options today.