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Silicon Valley Harassment Lawyer

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Silicon Valley Harassment Lawyer

Silicon Valley Harassment Lawyer

California Workplace Harassment Lawyer Serving Clients in Silicon Valley

Workplace harassment is a form of employment discrimination that is illegal under both federal and California state law. In Silicon Valley, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits discrimination under state law. There are also numerous federal laws that prohibit harassment at work in Silicon Valley, including:

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA); and
  • Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

Employers have a duty to prevent harassment in the workplace and to take corrective steps when harassment occurs. For employees who have been subject to workplace discrimination, it is important to work with a Silicon Valley employment law attorney to determine whether you should file your claim under federal or California state law. Federal claims must be filed through the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), while California state law claims must be filed through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).

For any questions about harassment in the workplace, you should contact a Silicon Valley harassment lawyer.

Harassment Prohibited on the Basis of Sex

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the California FEHA, sexual harassment is one type of prohibited discrimination in the workplace. Both federal and state law recognize two different types of sexual harassment:

  • Quid pro quo harassment, which is a type of sexual harassment where a boss or a supervisor asks an employee to engage in sexual activity in order to get a raise, get a promotion, keep a job, or another type of benefit; and
  • Hostile work environment harassment, which is a type of sexual harassment that involves discrimination on the basis of sex and can be perpetrated by anyone in a workplace, including a supervisor, a co-worker, or even a customer or client.

Harassment because of pregnancy is also considered a prohibited form of harassment on the basis of sex.

Unlawful Harassment on the Basis of Race, Color, and National Origin

Federal and state laws also prohibit harassment on the basis of race, color, and national origin. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the California FEHA make it unlawful for an employee to face harassment as a result of her race, color, or national origin.

It is important to keep in mind that “petty slights, annoyance, and isolated incidents,” unless those isolated incidents are extremely severe, will not rise to the level of prohibited harassment. Rather, any harassment “must create a hostile work environment that would be intimidating, hostile, or offensive to reasonable people,” according to the EEOC.

Other Forms of Illegal Harassment

Harassment on the basis of age, disability, or genetic information is also prohibited in most situations in the workplace. In order for age discrimination to be actionable under the ADEA, the harassment must involve age discrimination aimed at a person who is 40 or older.

Contact a Silicon Valley Harassment Lawyer

If you have questions about filing a claim, or if you are an employer who is facing a workplace harassment claim, you should speak with a Silicon Valley harassment attorney about your case. Contact Minnis & Smallets LLP today.

CONTACT US TODAY

If you are looking for advice or representation, please contact us today using the form below and we will promptly respond to your inquiry.

  • Please note that we are not able to schedule a consultation with an attorney for every matter. If we are able to schedule a consultation, then the initial consultation will be at no charge unless we specifically advise otherwise prior to the consultation.

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