Sexual Harassment Lawyers in Alameda County

Sexual harassment is conduct prohibited under both federal and California law as a form of prohibited sex discrimination. You have the right to work in Alameda County without being subjected to sexual harassment, which can create an abusive employment relationship and/or a hostile work environment. If you believe you have been the victim of sexual harassment at work, you need the right sexual harassment lawyers in Alameda County on your side and protecting your rights. 

Identifying Sexual Harassment

It is all too common for employees to question whether what they experienced constituted unlawful sexual harassment. This is harassment based on any of the following:

• Sex or gender
• Sexual identity
• Sexual orientation
• Gender expression or non-conformity

Traditionally, sexual harassment was considered to involve a male employee acting inappropriately and offensively toward a female employee. However, it is important to recognize that harassment based on an employee’s LGBT status or non-conformity to gender stereotypes is also prohibited by law as a type of sexual harassment. 

Unlawful sexual harassment also falls into one of two categories:

• Hostile work environment – When harassing conduct by anyone at work is so pervasive or offensive that a reasonable person would consider the work environment to be hostile, intimidating, or offensive. Conduct can include comments, gestures, unwanted touching, emails, photos, and much more.
• Quid pro quo harassment – A boss or authority figure conditions your future employment relationship on your willingness or not to engage in unwanted sexual conduct, or on your acceptance of offensive or abusive conduct. This can be either threatening your job if you do not comply, or offering benefits if you do.

If you believe there is a hostile work environment created by sexual harassment, you should report it to your employer immediately. If your employer fails to properly stop the offensive conduct, the company should be liable for damages you incurred, including lost wages and emotional trauma. Employers can be found automatically liable for quid pro quo harassment, and a company does not have to be given the opportunity to address the conduct before liability exists.

Knowing Your Rights

If you have been sexually harassed at work, you should discuss your legal rights and options with an employment attorney right away. An attorney can advise you on the proper path forward, which might start with notifying your employer or involve taking immediate legal action to seek appropriate remedies. You might bring a case under either state or federal law, and your attorney can identify which path is the right one for your case. 

Learn How Our Sexual Harassment Lawyers in Alameda County Can Help

At the law firm of Minnis & Smallets, our sexual harassment attorneys believe that no employee should have to endure offensive conduct at work based on their sex. We stand up for the rights of employees and help navigate the legal system so you can recover for your losses. Contact us to discuss what is happening at work and how we might be able to help.