California Workplace Sexual Harassment Lawyer
In our state, we have what is known as the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, also known as FEHA, protecting employees from sexual harassment in the workplace.
At Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, our seasoned legal team is extremely well versed and experienced in workplace sexual harassment cases and is prepared to provide you with the high level of guidance and representation you need to effectively fight for justice in your legal matter. Sexual harassment cannot be tolerated and anyone behaving in this manner can and should be held accountable for their actions.
If you or someone you care about has become a victim, your interests would be best served by talking to a qualified California workplace sexual harassment lawyer from Manly, Stewart & Finaldi about the details of your situation. You will need to know what legal rights you have and how to keep them protected and a legal advocate can provide the guidance you need.
Why Trust Manly, Stewart & Finaldi With Your Workplace Sexual Harassment Claim?
- We are America’s leading law firm for sexual assault and harassment lawsuits. We have received national recognition for our outstanding case outcomes.
- We have a lead California sexual harassment lawyer, John C. Manly, with more than 20 years of experience standing up for the rights of workplace sexual abuse and assault survivors throughout the U.S.
- We always put you first, especially when it comes to privacy. We use the highest standards of confidentiality to make you feel safe at all times.
What Constitutes Workplace Sexual Harassment?
There are very strict laws in place that justify legal action if an employee is subject to:
- Sexual discrimination
- Unwanted sexual comments or gestures
- Unwanted sexual advances
- Inappropriate touching
- Requests to perform sexual favors
- Behavior by a fellow employee or superior that creates an environment that is abusive, offensive, or intimidating
- Offers of employment advancement in exchange for sexual favors
- Threatening demotion or termination for not participating in sexual activities
When Is an Employer Liable for Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment can refer to any action by your boss, coworkers or customers at work that creates an environment that feels hostile or where you feel unsafe, or that interferes with your ability to do your job. An employer in California could be liable for sexual harassment – even if the company had nothing to do with the actual offense – through the rule of vicarious liability. Federal liability laws hold that all employers will be responsible for their employees. Actions and misconduct by employees while on the clock, therefore, will become the liability of the employer.
If an employee of the company is the person guilty of sexually harassing you, you should consider speaking with a skilled California workplace sexual harassment lawyer because you may be able to hold your employer vicariously liable for your damages. Holding the company vicariously liable instead of bringing your case against the individual alone could improve your chances of obtaining fair compensation. You may also have a case against your employer if it was directly or indirectly responsible for the harassment. For example, if a lack of anti-harassment company policies contributed to the issue, your employer may be liable.
The most common cases in which employees have grounds for sexual harassment lawsuits against their employers in California involve quid pro quo, a hostile work environment, harassment by a company official, harassment by an immediate supervisor or harassment by coworkers. Your employer might not be liable for sexual harassment, however, if it occurred outside of work hours, outside the workplace or by someone other than a party that works for your company. In these cases, you may still be able to pursue compensation from the person that harassed you. To learn more, speak with a California workplace sexual harassment attorney at Manly, Stewart & Finaldi.
Workplace Harassment and Social Media
The work environment has changed in the past few years along with the rest of the non-working world, as social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have exploded in popularity. It’s practically required to have a presence on these sites, and this has greatly increased the online contact that coworkers have with each other. Items like personal photos and non-work status updates being made available to anyone in the office who is connected with you on the site, the possibilities for having to face sexual harassment has greatly increased. Social media sexual harassment includes cases of bosses, coworkers or other individuals making unwanted sexual comments, suggestions and advances on your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.
Online sexual harassment can seem innocent at first, as the person harassing you can say they’re merely commenting on your photos and status updates. However like all forms of sexual harassment, the core issue revolves around their unwanted sexual approaches and can cause you to be uncomfortable or suffer mental anguish over their comments and postings. If their actions online contribute to an uncomfortable work environment, emotional anguish or other damage, you need to take legal action and hire an experienced California workplace sexual harassment lawyer to ensure that their harassing behavior is stopped immediately.
Compensation for Workplace Sexual Harassment Victims in California
Sexual harassment at work can interrupt your life. You may feel the need to find another job, as well as seek counseling about the incident. Coping as a survivor of sexual harassment is often a long-term battle. If you think you have experienced sexual harassment, speak to one of our California workplace sexual harassment lawyers about holding someone liable. Taking legal action can bring you justice and peace of mind after a traumatizing experience such as sexual harassment. It can also yield compensation for your damages.
- Lost wages. If you took personal or medical time off from your job, took a demotion, or worked fewer hours because of the harassment, the defendant could owe you compensation for lost wages.
- Job reinstatement and backpay. If your employer fired you for reporting sexual harassment, you could get your job back and receive backpay wages for the days you were not working.
- Medical expenses. You may be eligible for repayment of your doctor’s appointments, psychological counseling and/or medications related to the sexual harassment.
- Out-of-pocket expenses. Your lawyer could help you seek restitution for things you paid for yourself, such as traveling expenses, attorney’s fees, court filing costs and the costs of finding a new job.
- Pain and suffering. A successful case could result in payment for your intangible losses, such as emotional pain and suffering, trauma, mental anguish, and psychological distress.
Learn what your workplace sexual harassment claim might be worth during a free consultation at Manly, Stewart & Finaldi. One of our lawyers can review your case in detail and help you understand whether you have grounds for a lawsuit against your employer or another party. If so, we can give you an idea as to its potential value.
Speak With a Workplace Sexual Harassment Attorney in California
Our firm is extremely dedicated to relentlessly pursuing the best result possible for our clients and possesses a proven ability to win in these types of cases. No matter what the scenario is that you were involved in, we will go over the details of your situation with you and create the strongest case possible to aggressively seek justice in your legal matter.
Contact a California workplace sexual harassment lawyer at our firm now to discuss your case and learn what we can do to assist you.