How to Respond to an Employer about Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Nobody should ever have to put up with sexual harassment in the workplace. When harassment does occur, employees should have a clear and direct way to report it, and the issue should be dealt with promptly. However, that is not always what happens. At the Azadian Law Group, PC, Our Los Angeles sexual harassment lawyers want to discuss what you should do it you have been sexually harassed in the workplace.

What do you do if you are being sexually harassed in the workplace?

Ideally, your employer has policies in place to discourage any kind of sexual harassment. However, even the best policies may not be able to prevent sexual harassment. If you have been the victim of sexual harassment, follow these steps:

1. If you feel comfortable doing so, tell the person harassing you to stop their behavior.
2. If you do not feel comfortable confronting the harasser, or if they do not stop when you tell them to do so, follow these steps:
   1. Check for any workplace policies regarding sexual harassment. You may find this on the employer’s website or the employee handbook. You can ask a supervisor of someone in human resources for an anti-harassment policy.
   2. If there is a policy, follow the outlined steps. This policy will outline various options for reporting harassment, including an option for filing a complaint.
   3. If there is no policy, speak to your supervisor. You should talk to your supervisor or the supervisor of the person harassing you. If necessary, go to the leader of the department or company. Tell them what happened and ask for their help to stop the behavior.
   4. You are protected from retaliation for complaining about harassment. You cannot be fired for reporting harassment, participating in a harassment investigation or lawsuit, or opposing harassment.
   5. You can file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC about harassment. If you have reported harassment and nothing has been done, or if you have been retaliated against, you can file a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This has time limits, so please speak to an attorney about your case.

We are ready to help you through this

A study from NPR says that nearly 40% of women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace during their careers. If sexual harassment continues or your employer does nothing about the behavior, it is time to contact an attorney. At the Azadian Law Group, PC, we are ready to work on your behalf. Our qualified and experienced team will investigate what happened and work to secure the following:

• Pain and suffering damages
• Lost wages and benefits
• Reinstatement to your job (if desired)
• Compensation for any needed counseling
• Punitive damages against those responsible

When you need a Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 213-229-9031.