Torrance Sexual Harassment Lawyer

Torrance Sexual Harassment Attorney

California and federal law prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace. Unfortunately, it remains an issue for many employees, regardless of gender or employment industry. If you have been a victim of sexual harassment, there are actions you can take, including legal action against your harasser. This conduct is demeaning and often humiliating, and no one should have to face this while trying to do their job. A Torrance sexual harassment lawyer can help you protect your rights.

Dedicated Attorneys for Workplace Sexual Harassment Victims

Sexual harassment in the workplace can be done by an employer, a coworker, a manager, or any other individual you work with. That individual can be held accountable under the law. When an employer is aware of sexual harassment in the workplace and encourages it or fails to prevent it, they can also be held accountable, even if they were not the aggressor themselves. At Kramer Brown Hui LLP, we have worked for years to support employee rights and secure needed relief.

The attorneys at Kramer Brown Hui LLP, have decades of collective experience, and our team is dedicated to holding employers and aggressors accountable for creating unsafe workplaces and violating your rights. We understand how confusing the complaint and claims systems can be and can give you the guidance you need. Our legal support is compassionate and respectful. We are uncompromising in fighting for you and are willing to take the claim to trial if it is the most beneficial option.

Contact a Torrance sexual harassment lawyer at Kramer Brown Hui LLP today for a confidential consultation and take the first step toward justice.

The Types of Sexual Harassment

There are two types of sexual harassment in the workplace, according to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD). These two types include quid pro quo and hostile work environment. The circumstances of each can be difficult to navigate.

Quid Pro Quo

Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs between an employee and someone with authority or power over that employee’s job. This may be a manager, supervisor, business owner, or employer. When this individual with authority offers a positive employment opportunity or threatens a negative employment action on the condition of sexual favors or acceptance of sexual harassment, this is sexual harassment.

Positive employment actions can include a promotion, a job offer, benefits or pay increase, or easier work. Negative employment actions can include demotion or wrongful (illegal) termination. An individual with authority making ultimatums like this is an incredible abuse of their power, and it is what state and federal law exists to prevent.

Hostile Work Environment

A hostile work environment can be created by one or multiple coworkers and does not require them to be in any position of authority. It occurs when there is an intimidating, offensive, or hostile work culture created because of inappropriate actions, behavior, or comments. While teasing and jokes are not always sexual harassment, they can become sexual harassment if the behavior is severe or continuous.

Employers in Torrance, California, can be held accountable for hostile work environments when they fail to prevent the behavior despite knowing about it, or if they encourage the behavior.

Verbal abuse, inappropriate physical contact, or displaying inappropriate materials and items can all contribute to a hostile work environment. Multiple people can become victims of sexual harassment in hostile work environments. Anyone who feels victimized by a work culture like this can have grounds for a complaint and a claim.

What Are the Benefits of Working With an Employment Attorney?

Taking legal action is necessary if you have followed the required reporting steps in your company, and yet the sexual harassment you face has not been addressed. To take legal action, you must first obtain a right-to-sue letter from the CRD or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

An attorney can help you draft your complaint to the relevant agency and include the necessary evidence. Your Torrance employment attorney can help you with the entire process, including the claims process, when you receive the right to sue. It is much less stressful when you have a skilled legal professional on your side.

Sexual Harassment Statistics Overview

Between fiscal years 2018 and 2021, the EEOC recovered nearly $300 million for individuals pursuing sexual harassment claims, both through resolved charges and litigation. In FY 2021, 10% of all EEOC resolutions included a sexual harassment claim, a rise from 8.8% in FY 2018. That same year, 28.6% of those claims were resolved favorably for the worker, highlighting continued progress in accountability and enforcement of workplace rights.

If you’ve experienced harassment at work, speak with a Torrance sexual harassment lawyer immediately to protect your future.

FAQs

What Should You Do First if You Are a Victim of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?

If you’re experiencing sexual harassment at work, start by clearly telling the harasser that their behavior is unwelcome and needs to stop. If the conduct doesn’t stop, report it to your supervisor or your company’s HR department. Be sure to follow your employer’s specific procedures for reporting harassment, if available. If your supervisor is the one responsible, take your complaint to their superior. It’s important to document every incident, including dates, times, locations, and what occurred, and keep copies of any supporting evidence. If your employer does not take steps to reasonably address the issue, then you can begin looking for an experienced employment attorney.

What Evidence Is Needed to Prove a Case of Sexual Harassment?

To establish a sexual harassment claim, it’s essential to present evidence of unwelcome sexual behavior that either creates a hostile work environment or influences employment conditions. Useful evidence may include messages such as emails, texts, or voicemails, statements from witnesses, relevant personnel records, including prior complaints, and documentation showing how the harassment affected the victim’s job performance or emotional well-being.

Can a Manager Be Held Personally Liable for Sexual Harassment in California?

Yes, in California, the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) allows managers to be personally liable for engaging in sexual harassment. This allows employees to file a lawsuit directly against the individual manager for the harassment they endured. Unlike some other states, California law permits direct personal liability rather than holding managers accountable only through their employer.

What Are the Four Elements a Plaintiff Must Show to Pursue a Harassment Claim?

To file a complaint with the EEOC, there must be proof of four main elements to meet the definition of harassment: you are part of a legally protected class, you were the victim of unwelcome verbal or physical behavior, and this behavior was based around your protected class, the harassment you face either intentionally or as a consequence interfered with your job duties or establishing a hostile or intimidating work environment, and liability can be attributed to the employer.

Torrance Sexual Harassment Lawyer

No matter what the circumstances of the harassment you may have been subjected to, you deserve help. No employee should have to work in an environment in which they feel discriminated against, unsafe, or objectified. When you need a diligent and experienced sexual harassment attorney, Kramer Brown Hui LLP can help. Contact us today.

Torrance Sexual Harassment Lawyer Reviews

Torrance Sexual Harassment Resources:

• How to Protect Your Job After Reporting Sexual Harassment in Torrance, CA?