When women feel that they have been affected by sexual harassment at work, they need to know what to do, how to handle the situation, and what their company should do. At the same time, women may need to involve West Coast Employment Lawyers who will ensure that the case is handled properly. Use this information to ensure that harassment in the workplace is handled properly.
What Does Sexual Harassment Look Like?
When women are subject to harassment in the office, they should look out for telltale signs that make harassment obvious. This harassment often does not remain isolated to a single incident, and women should report anything that they believe is inappropriate. There is a list of inappropriate behavior here that women should not tolerate including:
- Lewd comments about a woman’s appearance
- Lewd comments about a woman’s sexual activities
- Inappropriate physical contact
- Inappropriate emails or text messages that are sent to a woman in the office
- Any inappropriate emails or text messages about the woman that she hears about in the office
- Inappropriate sexual advances in the office
- Employment decisions are made based on a woman’s sexual availability
- Employment decisions are made based on a woman’s appearance
- Women are told to wear provocative or skimpy outfits to work
- Women are required to perform non-sexual tasks that could be construed as sexual
Harassment Creates A Hostile Work Environment
When women are subject to a hostile work environment will notice that this sort of inappropriate behavior is pervasive. This makes women feel like they cannot come to work, or they dread going to work every day. Women who are stuck in a hostile work environment might be told that they need to succumb to sexual advances in order to advance their careers. This might be a condition upon which they are given raises or promotions.
Harassment that creates a hostile environment might include people in the office, in other departments, and throughout the company. Women who experience harassment do not need to experience only isolated instances of harassment in their department.
The hostile work environment can be so pervasive that women feel they need to leave their jobs.
Women May Suddenly Get Demoted Or Have Poor Performance Reviews
Women may suddenly have poor performance reviews or get demoted for no reason. When a woman has been subjected to harassment, she may have problems at work that she did not have in the past. Because this is the case, women should think about hiring an employment attorney who can help. However, ladies should also report any harassment that they experience as soon as possible.
Human Resources Should Investigate All Harassment Claims
Human resources should investigate all harassment claims as soon as possible. The company should be prepared to complete an unbiased investigation, and the investigation should not favor one person or the other. In other words, the company should look at each report carefully.
When women are reporting harassment, they might be told that they should not report certain people. The company might alert the accused, or they might avoid an investigation. At this point, women should reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. A sexual harassment attorney should get involved when the company does not act in good faith, and the employer should allow their attorney to handle the case.
What Do West Coast Employment Lawyers Do For Women Who Have Been Harassed At Work?
A sexual harassment attorney should investigate the case on behalf of their client. The client should give their attorney all the information they have, and the attorney will reach out to the company for any clarification. The employee needs to avoid speaking with attorneys or representatives of the company. If the employee still works for the company, they cannot be fired or demoted.
Retaliation is against the law.
The employment lawyer will work with the human resources department to determine how the harassment investigation was handled, and the lawyer will do their own investigation. An employment attorney understands how these cases should be handled, and the lawyer will advise the company of anything that could be done to rectify the situation. In essence, the company will have a chance to make things right before the employee sues.
Can Employees Sue If They Have Been Harassed At Work?
Employees may sue their employers or anyone accused of harassment if necessary. Employees should allow their lawyers to handle the case, and they should continue to work as normal. Employees are free to get a new job at any time, but that does not change the status of their lawsuit.
Employees can recover damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, and lost earning potential. Based on the attorney’s investigation, a criminal case may be opened because of the harassment that occurred. The people who are guilty of these allegations may be reassigned, demoted, or fired. The employee may ask to keep their job, or they may ask to be promoted to the position they should have received. The employee may also ask for the raise that they should have received.
Employees should be prepared for a long litigation process because the employer likely has a team of lawyers that will protect their interests. Women should allow their attorneys to handle the case, and employees should forward all letters or calls to their attorneys.
Conclusion
Women who experience harassment at work should not allow the harassment to continue. The harassment should be reported as soon as possible, and the employee should hire a lawyer who will help them. Harassment on the job should be met with swift action, and employees have a right to look for a new job if they need to. They might ask for the appropriate job during their lawsuit, or they might ask for the raise they deserve. An employment attorney can handle the case, communicate with the employer, and ensure that the employee receives the compensation they deserve.
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