Sexual Harassment Lawyers
Sexual harassment laws are intended to protect the public from unwanted sexual advances in a work environment. Sexual harassment was first introduced in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protected employees from being discriminated against based on their gender; however, the laws have evolved since then.
The United States Supreme Court has divided sexual harassment into two basic scenarios: a hostile environment and a tangible employment action. A tangible employment action refers to sexual harassment received from someone who makes or highly influences employment decisions. In essence, you either comply with my sexual advances or you'll be fired, situation. A hostile work environment, however, describes harassment from co-workers, supervisors, customers, vendors, or anyone who the victim comes into contact with during his or her workday.
If you feel you are the victim of sexual harassment, one action you can take help any future case you might bring is to follow your company's complaint policy. Confront the harasser and make sure he or she is aware that his or her conduct is offensive and affecting you negatively.
Some behaviors that can amount to sexual harassment include:
- Talking about sexual activities
- Inappropriate jokes
- Unwanted touching
- Talking about physical appearance or attributes
- Inappropriate, provocative pictures being displayed
- Indecent gestures
- Trading job promotions or favors in return for sexual activity
- Using inappropriate terms of endearment
The victim of sexual harassment can be either male or female, and those committing sexual harassment may also be either male or female. Gender does not matter. The judge (or perhaps jury) in a sexual harassment case considers a number of factors, including:
If you are the victim of sexual harassment, do not blame yourself for someone else's actions. Do not feel ashamed and choose to ignore the behavior. Do not try to handle the problem yourself, especially if it is persistent. Make your feelings known, and if his or her behavior continues, report it.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of sexual harassment, please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, today for your free consultation.
- Frequency of inappropriate conduct
- Sternness of conduct
- Whether the conduct was physical or emotional
- Effect on employees psychological well-being
- The position of the harasser (supervisor, co-worker, etc.)