Sexual Harassment
– Sexual Harassment At Work
On January 1, 2019, California’s SB 1300 became law. These laws provide all Californians with an equal opportunity to succeed in the workplace. Harassment cases no longer need to be severe or pervasive – they merely need to interfere with your work.
This includes harassment that creates a hostile, offensive, oppressive, or intimidating work environment and deprives you of your statutory right to work in a place free of discrimination.
If you have experienced harassing conduct that offends, humiliates, distresses, or intrudes upon you, so as to disrupt your emotional tranquility or personal sense of well-being we can help.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment happens when a boss or a manager offers or threatens employment or promotions in exchange for unwanted sex.
It doesn’t have to be physical or verbal and can happen with actions, gestures, photos, posters, notes, leering looks and innuendos.
It is not limited by gender or sexual orientation. Women and men can cause or be the victims. It can occur with a single act or through a series of acts during any work-related event, activity or function.
It is also vital to understand your employer’s responsibilities and the common types of sexual harassment: Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Work Environment.
Your employer’s responsibilities.
Employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. This includes posting mandatory information about the prevention of sexual harassment and information about your employer’s internal complaint process.
Not all employers meet their legal obligation. Complaints can go ignored and the victim can even be targeted for retaliation.
What is Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment?
“Something for something” or “this for that”. Quid pro quo sexual harassment happens when your supervisor requires you to provide sex to get the job, a promotion, benefits, or even to keep your job.
This type is easy to spot and the law is clear. Under California law, the employer is responsible for the supervisor’s quid pro quo sexual harassment, whether you report it or not.
What is Hostile Work Environment?
A Hostile Work Environment no longer needs to be severe of pervasive. Now a Hostile Work Environment exists when harassment creates a hostile, offensive, oppressive, or intimidating work environment and deprives you of your statutory right to work in a place free of discrimination.
When the harassment offends, humiliates, distresses, or intrudes upon you, so as to disrupt the your emotional tranquility in the workplace, affect your ability to perform the job as usual, or otherwise interfere with and undermines your personal sense of well-being a Hostile Work Environment may exist.
What can I do?
If you have been forced or asked to have unwanted sex to get or keep a job you may have been a victim of sexual harassment. If sexual harassment is interfering with your work and you want it to stop, we can help.
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