Fighting Back Against Workplace Sexual Harassment
While much progress has been made over the past half-century, sexual harassment in the workplace is still far more common than many people realize. If you’ve been a victim of sexual harassment by a boss/manager, co-worker or even a client/customer, your employer has a legal responsibility to respond to your complaints and take any necessary actions to rectify the situation.
What happens if no action is taken or, even worse, you face retaliation for speaking up? In such cases, it is time to seek help from an experienced and skilled employment law attorney. In Las Vegas and surrounding areas, look no further than Hatfield & Associates Ltd.
If It Feels Wrong, It Probably Is Wrong
There are two basic types of workplace sexual harassment. They are “quid pro quo” and “hostile work environment.” The specific actions that constitute sexual harassment are too numerous to list here, but most cases involve one or more of the following:
- Unwelcome sexual advances
- Requests for sexual favors
- Verbal or physical conduct that is sexual in nature and that creates a hostile work environment
- Verbal or physical conduct that is sexual in nature and affects an individual’s workplace responsibilities, chances for promotion or other things related to job status (quid pro quo)
Many victims of sexual harassment instinctively feel violated but then either blame themselves or try to rationalize what they experienced. But as a general rule, you should trust your instincts. Something that feels wrong probably was wrong, and it is at least worth discussing the incident with a human resources professional or an attorney. Remember that sexual harassers often have numerous victims. If it happened to you, it probably happened to someone else as well – and speaking up can help break that pattern.
Building A Legal Case
Most of the time, sexual harassment claims are based on a pattern of behaviors rather than a single action. As such, it is a good idea to keep notes of every time you experience harassment, including what happened, who was there and any other evidence you can gather. Witnesses to the harassment are also a valuable resource, when available.
If the case escalates to litigation (almost always a civil lawsuit), this evidence could prove to be crucial. It will help you and your attorney seek compensation for emotional distress, loss of income, physical injuries and property damage.
Contact An Experienced Employment Law Attorney To Discuss Your Options
Hatfield & Associates Ltd. offers convenient and affordable consultations with an attorney who has more than 20 years of experience. To inquire about details or to schedule your first appointment, call the firm’s Las Vegas office at 702-706-1162, or simply fill out an online contact form.