Sexual Harassment

What constitutes sexual harassment? If you find yourself asking this question, maybe you’re in a confusing situation at work and you’re unsure about what to do. One of the hardest parts of sexual harassment is knowing — without a doubt — when you’ve been a victim of it.

Defining Sexual Harassment

In most areas of the law, it’s important to know your rights before a situation occurs. When sexual harassment is involved, it’s important that you know what, exactly, can constitute harassment. In short: sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance or behavior. It can be as small as a co-worker making a comment about your appearance or as serious as a superior implying that you can get a raise if you engage in sexual activity with them. It can include:

Requesting sexual favors for any reason

Frequent teasing or offensive comments

Implying that sexual activity can result in you earning a pay increase or promotion (or that lack of said sexual activity could lead to losing your job)

A victim of sexual harassment being fired or demoted

Verbal or physical harassment — from anyone — in a work environment

Any form of sexual harassment in the workplace should be taken just as seriously as any other form of discrimination. And if you’re the victim of sexual harassment from a co-worker or superior, you have the right to take them to court.

Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination

Fight back

Sexual Harassment: Myth vs. Fact

Sexual harassment is fraught with misconceptions. As a society, we have stereotypes in our mind regarding any kind of harassment. It’s important to know the facts so that you can take the correct action when sexual harassment presents itself in your workplace.

Myth: “My co-worker made an offensive comment about women in general. This isn’t sexual harassment.”

Fact: Actually, this kind of behavior is included in sexual harassment laws. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), “harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature.” Any kind of offensive comments about a person’s sex can constitute as sexual harassment, especially if those comments are frequent.

Myth: “I saw a co-worker sexually harassing one of my other co-workers. This isn’t something I can get involved in.”

Fact: Sexual harassment doesn’t just affect the direct victim, and this idea is covered by sexual harassment laws. Sexual harassment can create a hostile work environment — and this affects everyone.

Myth: “Sexual harassment only happens to women and the harasser is always a male.”

Fact: Both the harasser and the victim of sexual harassment can be male or female. Also, sexual harassment can occur between members of the same sex. It isn’t always a male as the harasser and a female as the victim. In fact, as sexual harassment claims were on the decline in 2012, the percentage of males making claims actually increased.

Sexual Harassment Attorneys in Los Angeles, California

Sexual harassment directly interferes with employees’ ability to perform their jobs well. Whether you’ve been the direct victim or you’ve seen sexual harassment in varying forms around your office, we encourage you to speak up. We’ve helped people just like you — unsure, afraid, and frustrated — all around the LA metro area. Contact us today to get help.