Irvine Workplace Harassment Lawyer
According to Federal law, workplaces should be free of harassment. In general, you expect that your workplace will be a positive environment where you can complete your work and move forward with your day. Unfortunately, sometimes, workers find themselves facing significant harassment that can influence their ability to do their jobs, their mental health, and their overall well-being. If you are experiencing this conduct at work, an Irvine workplace harassment lawyer could help you manage your next steps. Our employment attorneys are ready to help.
What Does Workplace Harassment Look Like?
Workplace harassment can take a number of forms. It often involves discrimination on the basis of a protected class, including race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, but it can also involve one coworker routinely picking on another or giving them a hard time. Common examples of harassment include:
- Repeated sexual or romantic advances
- Age discrimination
- Intolerance related to religious accommodations or holidays
- Rude or offensive language use
- Lurking around your desk
- Pestering you constantly
- Excluding you from workplace events or meetings, including social activities
- Interfering with your personal possessions
In addition, some employees will take harassment online, making comments or sending images through email or company communication channels. An attorney in Irvine could help an employee understand their legal options after any of these actions.
What to do After Workplace Harassment
If a person finds themself dealing with harassment in the workplace, they do not have to sit back and accept it. Instead, they could take proactive steps to put a stop to it and protect themself.
Document Harassment
An employee should keep a record of everything they have had to deal with that constitutes harassment. In cases of verbal or sexual harassment, go back to their desk and write down everything they remember about the encounter as soon as possible: where and when it occurred, what was said or done, and any witnesses to the encounter. If harassment occurred online, take screenshots.
Talk to a Manager
The person’s direct manager is often the first line of defense when an employee is suffering harassment at work. Talk to them about the harassment as soon as possible.
Report It to HR
If a person does not feel comfortable going to their manager, their manager is the one harassing them, or their manager does not take action to prevent further harassment, go to HR and issue a report. If a person provides evidence of the harassment, make sure to keep copies of the documents.
Talk to a Lawyer
If an employer does not deal with or put a stop to harassment in the workplace, an employee needs an Irvine lawyer on their side. A lawyer can offer more information about what to do when when dealing with workplace harassment, what steps a person needs to take next, and how to ensure job prospects are not impacted by potential retaliation.
Dealing with Retaliation
In some cases, an employer or manager may attempt to retaliate against an employee for reporting harassment. Document the retaliation and return to a lawyer for protection.
Contact an Irvine Workplace Harassment Attorney
You do not have to face the challenges of harassment in the workplace alone. Whether you have recently started experiencing workplace harassment or you have already suffered retaliation for reporting the harassing actions of a coworker, an Irvine workplace harassment lawyer could help you protect your rights. Contact Levin & Nalbandyan Trial Lawyers today to discuss the challenges you have faced in the workplace, how you can put a stop to harassment, and your next steps.
