Sexual Harassment Attorneys in Los Angeles, CA
The Leichter Law Firm, APC was founded by Los Angeles sexual harassment lawyer, Aryeh Leichter, who represents California employees who have suffered from these degrading circumstances in the workplace, so they can take back control of their lives.
The firm’s skilled sexual harassment attorney in Los Angeles County focuses on providing unique legal solutions for each of his clients, so they can hold their employers accountable for the physical and emotional damages they suffered from a supervisor, coworker, or third party’s offensive behavior.
If you have been suffering from sexual harassment in the workplace, contact our skilled employment lawyer today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. The Leichter Law Firm, APC, provides a free consultation to help employees who have suffered from sexual harassment in the workplace. The firm’s skilled sexual harassment attorney in Los Angeles County offers personalized legal solutions to hold employers accountable for the physical and emotional damages caused by offensive behavior.
What is Considered Sexual Harassment in Los Angeles, California Workplaces?
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal for all employers in California and throughout the U.S. to allow anyone to be sexually harassed at work, regardless of that person’s sex, gender, or sexual orientation.
Unfortunately, employees are still being subjected to sexual harassment, assaults, and abuse in public, private, and government employment sectors throughout California.
The most common types of sexual harassment in the workplace may include, but are not limited to:
- Non-Verbal Sexual Harassment
Intimidating behaviors, like blocking an exit or doorway, making sexual gestures, winking, or leering are all forms of non-verbal sexual harassment.
- Verbal Sexual Harassment
Demeaning or derogatory comments, including making statements about someone’s looks or the way they are dressed, or addressing them by pet or nicknames in the workplace could be considered sexual harassment. Verbal sexual harassment can involve unwelcome sexual advances, comments, or jokes. This can range from catcalling to lewd comments to explicit sexual comments.
The key component of any sexual harassment, including verbal harassment, is how it makes the victim feel. This type of harassment creates a hostile work environment where the targeted employee may feel uncomfortable, intimidated, and unsafe at work.
- Physical Sexual Harassment
Physical sexual harassment may include unwanted touching, massaging, patting, hugging, or stroking behaviors, standing too close, making continuous contact, or brushing up against another employee or subordinate.
This type of harassment is a serious offense that can lead to significant emotional distress and physical harm. Perpetrators may use their physical strength to intimidate or exert control over their victims, which can result in lasting damage to the victim. Victims of physical sexual harassment may feel powerless, ashamed, or embarrassed. It can be particularly challenging to report this behavior.
- Sexual Requests or Threats
Quid pro quo sexual harassment involves an employer or employee requesting sexual favors in exchange for favorable treatment, which may include a promotion or raises.
However, it could also be the act of threatening an employee with a demotion or termination for not providing sexual favors.
Sexual requests or threats can also involve unwelcome sexual advances, such as repeated requests for dates or sexual activity. In some cases, it can be the display of sexually explicit images or objects in the workplace. As with all of the other forms of harassment, this can seriously harm the victim. Further, it could lead to retaliation if the victim refuses the sexual requests or reports the behavior to supervisors.
It is important to know that victims of these forms of sexual harassment in the workplace have numerous legal rights and protections. If you have suffered from sexual harassment in the workplace in California, contact the experienced employment law attorney in California at the Leichter Law Firm, APC today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
California law expressly prohibits such sexual harassment, and employers have a duty to prevent and address such behavior. Our experienced California employment lawyers are prepared to help you navigate the legal process and obtain the justice that you deserve.
What Should I Do if I’m Being Sexually Harassed?
Facing sexual harassment can be a profoundly distressing experience, and knowing how to respond is crucial. Here are steps to consider if you believe you are being sexually harassed in your Los Angeles workplace:
- Document Incidents: Start by meticulously documenting every instance of harassment, including dates, times, locations, individuals involved, and a detailed description of what transpired. This information can serve as valuable evidence.
- Consult a Support Network: Reach out to trusted colleagues, friends, or family members for emotional support. Speaking to someone you trust can help alleviate the emotional toll of harassment.
- Report the Harassment: Notify your employer or HR department about the harassment you are experiencing. Many organizations in Los Angeles have clear policies and procedures for addressing workplace harassment.
- Seek Legal Counsel: It’s essential to consult with an experienced Sexual Harassment Attorney in Los Angeles like Leichter Law Firm, APC, who can provide guidance on the legal aspects of your case.
- Preserve Evidence: Ensure that any evidence related to the harassment, such as emails, text messages, or witnesses, is preserved for future legal proceedings.
What are the Signs of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace in Los Angeles?
Recognizing the signs of sexual harassment is the first step towards addressing this issue effectively. In Los Angeles workplaces, sexual harassment can manifest in various ways, including:
- Unwanted Advances: Inappropriate comments, gestures, or physical contact that is unwelcome and uncomfortable.
- Hostile Work Environment: A pervasive atmosphere of sexual innuendos, offensive jokes, or offensive materials that create an uncomfortable and intimidating workplace.
- Retaliation: Facing adverse consequences, such as demotions or termination, as a result of reporting harassment or participating in an investigation.
- Quid Pro Quo Harassment: Being subjected to harassment with the promise of workplace benefits or job security in exchange for sexual favors.
- Cyberharassment: Harassment occurring through electronic communication, including emails, texts, or social media, which can be just as damaging as in-person harassment.
What are the workplace harassment laws in Los Angeles?
In Los Angeles, sexual harassment is illegal under both state and federal laws. Here are some key legal protections:
- California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA): FEHA provides comprehensive protection against workplace harassment, including sexual harassment. It covers employers with five or more employees and offers remedies for victims of harassment.
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: This federal law prohibits sexual harassment in workplaces across the United States, including Los Angeles. It applies to employers with 15 or more employees.
- Prevention and Reporting: Employers in Los Angeles are required to have anti-harassment policies in place and provide regular training to employees. They must also investigate and address harassment complaints promptly.
- Legal Recourse: Victims of sexual harassment can seek legal remedies, including compensation for damages and attorney’s fees, by filing a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) or pursuing a civil lawsuit.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Harassment in Los Angeles, California Workplace?
Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, employers can be held liable for sexual harassment that occurs in the workplace. Sexual harassment is any unwelcome or unwanted sexual conduct in the workplace and can be committed by several harassers — not just supervisors. It is important to note that supervisors and managers who engage in or fail to address sexual harassment can be held personally liable. This means that if an employee experiences sexual harassment at work, they may be able to hold both the company and the individuals responsible for the harassment accountable in a lawsuit.
Sexual harassers can be male or female, and the harassment can be committed by those who are:
- Company owners – If the owner was aware of, engaged in, or failed to resolve sexual harassment, they can be held accountable.
- Employees – While most people assume supervisors are the main perpetrators of sexual harassment, peers in the workplace can be held liable for the same offense. Employees can also be held responsible for sexual harassment in the workplace.
- Managers – Again, managers and supervisors are the commonly thought of perpetrators of sexual harassment. Managers and supervisors have a duty to resolve sexual harassment claims when they are brought to their attention. Further, they have a duty to maintain a safe work environment for all employees as much as reasonably possible.
- Vendors – Where vendors have engaged in sexual harassment on company property or during a company-sponsored event, they may be held liable for their actions.
- Customers – Customers can be held responsible for sexual harassment in the workplace if their behavior contributed to creating a hostile work environment for employees. As previously mentioned, business managers have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment for their employees, which includes protecting them from customers who are harassing them. If a customer’s behavior is inappropriate or offensive, they can be held accountable for those actions.
If you are being sexually harassed at work, no matter your gender or sexual identity, or who the person or people are harassing you, contact the experienced employment law attorney in Los Angeles at the Leichter Law Firm, APC today to learn more about your legal rights and options to hold each liable party accountable for their unlawful behavior.
Are Independent Contractors Protected From Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
Our California laws specify that all workers, including interns, volunteers, and independent contractors are afforded protection from sexual harassment behavior in the workplace.
These protections also require all employers to take steps to prevent sexual harassment from happening at all by implementing a written policy that explains what sexual harassment is, and how to report it properly should it occur.
If you have been sexually harassed no matter your role in the company or retaliated against for verbally opposing the behavior, reporting sexual harassment, or for participating in an investigation or legal action related to sexual harassment in the workplace, contact Aryeh Leichter today to understand your rights, so you can pursue the financial compensation you may be entitled to from your employer.
Our Los Angles Sexual Harassment Attorney Serve The Following Practice Area
- Age Discrimination
- Breach of Employment Contracts
- Disability Discrimination
- Employment Discrimination
- Employment Harassment
- FMLA, CFRA
- Independent Contractor Claims
- Overtime Misclassification
- Pregnancy Discrimination
- Residential Apartment Manager
- Retaliation Claims
- Wage and Hour Claims
- Wrongful Termination
What Type of Compensation Can Sexual Harassment Victims Pursue in California?
All California sexual harassment cases are unique and require a full legal examination to pursue a positive outcome. Victims of sexual harassment can pursue financial compensation by filing a lawsuit against their employer. Compensation may include lost income and benefits, counseling, pain and suffering damages, and potential punitive damages against the employer or others who participated in the harassment.
That may include pursuing the employer for:
- Reinstatement to the job or position, when applicable, if the employee was wrongfully terminated or forced to resign due to the harassment.
- Lost income and benefits
- Compensation for counseling, when applicable
- Pain and suffering damages
- Potential punitive damages against the employer or others who participated in the harassment.
The amount of compensation will depend on the severity and duration of the harassment, as well as the emotional and financial harm caused to the victim.
The Leichter Law Firm Is Here to Help.
The Leichter Law Firm, APC, provides legal services in several practice areas, including discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation claims, wage and hour claims, age discrimination, breach of employment contracts, disability, FMLA, CFRA, independent contractor claims, overtime misclassification, and pregnancy discrimination.
If you have been a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, contact the experienced sexual harassment attorney at the Leichter Law Firm, APC, to schedule a free consultation and learn about your legal rights and options. You can call 818-915-6624 or contact the firm online.
In conclusion, the Leichter Law Firm, APC, offers legal services to employees who have suffered from sexual harassment in the workplace. The firm’s skilled sexual harassment attorney in Los Angeles County provides personalized legal solutions to hold employers accountable for their unlawful behavior and allows victims to pursue the financial compensation to which they are entitled.
Contact Our Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Los Angeles, CA at the Leichter Law Firm, APC
Ari Leichter, the founder and sexual harassment attorney in Los Angeles County will provide the resources you need to investigate your claim and build a compelling case that allows you to hold your employer accountable for the unlawful and humiliating treatment you have endured in the workplace.
Contact the skilled Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney at the Leichter Law Firm, APC today to schedule a free, confidential consultation by calling 818-915-6624 or contacting the firm online.
Related Link:
- Does Gender Play A Role In California Sexual Harassment Cases?
- Employment Law: Sexual Orientation Discrimination
- Understanding Employment Law On Sexual Orientation Discrimination