Bakersfield Workplace Sexual Harassment Lawyer
When you go to your job, you should not have to worry about your physical or emotional safety. As part of that safety, you should not have to worry about unwanted or even threatening sexual advances or other kinds of harassment in the workplace. When sexual harassment occurs at work, people can face devastating ramifications.
If you experienced sexual harassment at work, our seasoned employment attorneys could allow you to be heard. Our Bakersfield workplace sexual harassment lawyer could help you seek justice through a lawsuit for financial compensation.
Understanding the Laws Regarding Sexual Harassment at Work
Sexual harassment is a type of employment discrimination based on sex. It occurs when someone who has a professional relationship with another person makes unwanted sexually suggestive advances or sexually suggestive comments.
Sexual harassment is specifically prohibited under numerous federal statutes, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on a worker’s sex, and Title IX, which disallows employment discrimination based on sex in schools or activities that receive federal funding. State law also sets forth measures to protect workers from sex discrimination under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
Our lawyers in Bakersfield could explain the relevant workplace sexual harassment laws and how they might apply.
Types of Sexual Harassment Workers Could Endure
Sexual harassment usually occurs in two forms.
Quid Pro Quo
If an employer or manager directly connects the granting or denial of a work benefit to their sexual advances, the employee is subjected to quid pro quo harassment. For instance, quid pro quo harassment happens when a manager offers a worker a promotion if they agree to go on a date with them or when a manager demotes an employee for rejecting their advances.
Hostile Working Environment
Sexual harassment can also occur where an employer, manager, or coworker’s conduct unreasonably interferes with the worker’s environment. For example, an employee could argue that their boss created a hostile working environment by constantly making lewd and inappropriate jokes.
More examples of sexual harassment under federal and state law include:
- Making sexual comments, such as jokes
- Touching someone in a sexual manner against their wishes, such as groping, or invading their personal space
- Staring at someone’s body in a lewd or sexually suggestive manner
- Making repeated sexual advances, vulgar comments, or requests for sexual favors and dates
- Viewing, showing, or posting explicit material or pornographic images while at work
Our compassionate attorneys could meet with a worker to discuss the details of what has happened to them.
When Could an Employer Potentially be Liable for Workplace Sexual Harassment?
Our dedicated legal team in Bakersfield could investigate a complaint to see if it rises to the level of actionable sexual harassment and whether the employer is liable. Under state law, an employer could be legally responsible for sexual harassment in specific situations. If an employer, manager, or supervisor harasses a worker who is subordinate to them, the employer would be liable. If the harassment takes place between coworkers at a similar level or in a similar work position, the employer would only be legally responsible for failing to take action if they directly knew or should have known about the harassment.
Contact a Bakersfield Workplace Sexual Harassment Attorney
Sexual harassment at work should not be tolerated. Fortunately, you might have the legal ability to fight back.
Contact our dedicated Bakersfield workplace sexual harassment lawyer to learn what they can do to help you through this challenging time.
