Hollister Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination that violates federal employment discrimination law — specifically, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (CRA) of 1964. The sexual harassment attorneys at Grunsky, Ebey, Farrar & Howell (The Grunsky Law Firm PC) represent clients facing unsolicited and inappropriate sexually charged behaviors in the workplace, and they work diligently to protect their rights.
What constitutes sexual harassment in Hollister?
Unwelcome sexual advances from an employer or co-worker, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature is considered to be harassment in the following situations:
- When submission to or rejection of the advances explicitly or implicitly affects employment or job status
- When the sexual conduct interferes with work performance
- When it forms an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment for anyone affected
In Hollister and throughout California, sexual harassment law protects individuals feeling violated under a variety of circumstances, including, but not limited to the following:
- The victim as well as the harasser may be a man or a woman. The victim and harasser do not have to be of opposite sexes.
- The harasser may be the victim’s supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor in another department or division, a co-worker, or even a non-employee.
- The individual being harassed is not necessarily the only victim of inappropriate behavior. Anyone affected by offensive sexual conduct may be a victim,
- Unlawful sexual harassment may occur without economic damage to the victim or termination of his or her employment.
- The sexual conduct must be unwelcome.
- The victim of sexual harassment may contact a lawyer without fear of retaliation.
What to do if you are being harassed
Despite the discomfort of confrontation, victims of sexual harassment at work should notify the harasser directly that the advances, remarks, or other behaviors are unwelcome and must cease. If directly informing the harasser is unsuccessful, the victim should use an employer grievance mechanism such as filing a complaint or speaking with an ombudsperson. When there is no effective system in place or the harassment continues, it may be time to consult an attorney and file formal charges.
In a sexual harassment lawsuit, the courts examine the whole record—the circumstances, such as the nature of the sexual conduct, as well as the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. A determination is made after considering all of the facts at hand.