Workplace harassment can leave you feeling isolated, intimidated, and unsure of where to turn. Our team of attorneys at Employment Rights Lawyers, APC, stands up for employees and helps determine whether unlawful harassment may have violated your rights.
What Is Harassment?
Workplace harassment is unwelcome conduct that is based on a protected characteristic, such as race, sex, disability, age, religion, national origin, or another legally protected status. Under California law, harassment generally involves verbal, physical, or visual conduct that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive workplace. Harassment may come from supervisors, coworkers, clients, customers, or other individuals in the workplace.
If you believe you are being harassed at work, our team of attorneys at Employment Rights Lawyers, APC, can evaluate your situation and help determine whether your rights may have been violated. We take the time to understand what happened, explain your legal options, and pursue the best possible outcome for your case.
Types of Harassment That Workers May Face
Quid Pro Quo Harassment
Quid pro quo harassment occurs when a supervisor or person in authority conditions workplace benefits or continued employment on unwanted sexual conduct. This unlawful “something for something” arrangement can take many forms, including:
- Demanding sexual favors in exchange for a promotion
- Threatening termination after rejecting advances
- Offering raises or preferred assignments for sexual conduct
- Conditioning continued employment on a personal relationship
- Promising career opportunities in return for sexual favors
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. It can occur between supervisors, coworkers, or other workplace participants and may include:
- Unwanted touching or physical contact
- Repeated requests for dates after rejection
- Sexually explicit comments or jokes
- Sending inappropriate texts, emails, or messages
- Displaying sexually suggestive images or content
Racial Harassment
Racial harassment is conduct directed at an employee because of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, or national origin. Such behavior can create a hostile work environment and may violate California employment laws, including:
- Using racial slurs or epithets
- Mocking accents or cultural traditions
- Making offensive racial jokes
- Displaying racist symbols or imagery
- Repeated derogatory comments about race or ethnicity
Why Choose Employment Rights Lawyers, APC, for Your Harassment Case?
Harassment can leave you feeling powerless, but you do not have to tolerate it or face it alone. You have the right to a safe workplace. Our team of attorneys at Employment Rights Lawyers, APC, focuses exclusively on representing employees in workplace disputes and understands how harassment claims are investigated and proven. We provide personal attention, direct access to our legal team, and honest guidance about your legal options. If necessary, we have the experience and resources to litigate the right cases and pursue the best possible outcome on your behalf.
Do You Have a Viable Harassment Claim? Or Is It Just Unfair?
Many employees are subjected to behavior that feels wrong, disrespectful, or inappropriate. However, not every unpleasant workplace experience rises to the level of unlawful harassment. The key question is whether the conduct is connected to a protected characteristic or involves unlawful sexual conduct.
FAQ
What Can I Do if I’m Being Subjected to Harassment?
If you are experiencing harassment at work, start by documenting what happened. Keep records of offensive comments, messages, emails, incidents, and any complaints you make to management or human resources. If your employer has a reporting procedure, follow it whenever possible and maintain copies of any communications. Reporting the conduct can be important, particularly when the harassment involves a coworker and the employer has a duty to investigate and stop the behavior.
You should also be aware that it is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against you for reporting harassment or participating in an investigation. If you are being harassed in the workplace, ignored after reporting misconduct, or punished for speaking up, our team of attorneys at Employment Rights Lawyers, APC, can evaluate your situation, explain your rights, and discuss your legal options.
Contact Us for a Free
(And Confidential) Consultation
No one should have to endure harassment. Contact our team of attorneys at Employment Rights Lawyers, APC, for a free and confidential case review. We can listen to your story, evaluate your situation clearly, and help you understand whether you may have a viable harassment claim under California law.
