CONTACTING A SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWYER IN LOS ANGELES
You should be able to work without being intimidated, degraded, and harassed. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against sex discrimination of all kinds, including sexual harassment. The state law of California also protects people against such infringement. If you experienced harassment in the workplace and your company has failed to act, you can take legal action against them. Before doing so, you should hire an employment attorney in Los Angeles.
Making It Clear
People socialize all the time at work. You may have forged friendships among your co-workers. If you met someone at work and are interested in each other, you are free to pursue that relationship after hours. When someone has expressed an interest in you and made it clear that you do not share their feelings, they should respect that. They should not continue to make advances toward you, and they should never make sexually suggestive comments. Doing so constitutes sexual harassment.
Sexual Harassment Is Not About Sex
Sexual harassment has nothing to do with sex. Anyone who continues to pester you with requests for a date is not expressing romantic interest; they are expressing their desire for power. Such unwanted advances are not the only ways that sexual harassment manifests itself. Making lewd comments also constitutes sexual harassment. Hanging calendars and posters and putting up screensavers that are sexually suggestive is also illegal. And you should not be subjected to catcalls or inappropriate comments when walking down the corridors of your office. This creates a hostile work environment in which it is impossible to be productive.
Why You Must Report Sexual Harassment
If you think that speaking a quiet word to the person whose words and actions have made you uncomfortable will resolve the matter, then you should do this. If you are uncomfortable confronting your harasser or dealing with more than one person, you should file a formal complaint.
Many sexual harassment victims are reluctant to file a complaint, which is understandable. You got hired for your ability to do the job. You want people to respect you for the knowledge and expertise you bring to your work. The last thing you want is to be known as a troublemaker. You don’t want to be looked at and treated differently.
However, if you do not report the harassment, it will only get worse, and the person is likely to do the same thing to someone else. What starts as sexual harassment can lead to something more serious if it is not checked. A sexual predator who believes they can get away with what they are doing may escalate their behavior and commit a sexual assault. You should do all that is in your power to prevent this from happening.
When to Take Legal Action
If you have submitted a complaint to your employer and it has not been acted on, then you should call a Los Angeles workplace complaint lawyer. You should also look to outside counsel if you have been told to drop the complaint against the person who harassed you. You will also need a sexual harassment attorney in Los Angeles if you have been the victim of retaliation. Employers are forbidden from firing, demoting, or otherwise retaliating against a person who has filed a sexual harassment complaint.
When you retain the services of a sexual harassment lawyer in Los Angeles, the first thing they will do is ask you to recall the incidents that you have had to deal with. They will ask you for as many details as possible, including your employer’s response. Answer these questions as thoroughly as you can. But do not worry about leaving anything out. The Los Angeles attorney for workplace harassment you hire will launch their investigation into your claims and the company.
If you have been sexually assaulted, you will need to get the police involved. Although public prosecutors deal with sex crimes, you should hire a sexual assault and harassment lawyer for the workplace. You need someone who will make sure that the police and prosecutors take your complaints seriously. An experienced and powerful attorney can help you with this.
What You Can Recover
The aim of your Los Angeles workplace harassment law firm is to get you justice. This comes in the form of damages and other forms of restitution. You should be compensated for the loss of employment, loss of wages, medical expenses, and other economic misfortunes you have suffered due to the harassment. You can also receive compensation for:
-Emotional damage resulting from the stress and strain of your ordeal
-Punitive damages if the harasser’s misconduct was especially shocking, outrageous, and egregious
If you were fired and wish to be reinstated, you could make this demand. You can also insist that your employer change the rules, regulations, and enforcement mechanisms related to sexual harassment. You can also request that the person who harassed you be fired or terminated.
Holding Your Employer Accountable
Your employer is responsible for the safety and well-being of everyone in the workplace. You can build a lawsuit against your employer based on their negligence. Your attorney will gather the necessary evidence to prove that your employer did not provide a safe work environment and that you suffered serious emotional and financial damage as a result.
If you were sexually harassed, others have likely been as well. Your lawyer will take statements from other people who work for the company and track down former employees. It may be the case that their departure from the company was connected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.
If you have been sexually harassed in the workplace, you do not have to take it. If your employer has not acted on your complaint, then you should retain a lawyer. And if it is necessary, you should file a lawsuit against your employer.