San Bernardino Sexual Harassment Lawyer

Sexual Harassment Lawyer in San Bernardino, CA

Sexual harassment in the workplace is humiliating, degrading, and, unfortunately, still too common in the workplace. It is extremely unlawful and incredibly inappropriate. There are laws that have been put into place, and as an employee in San Bernardino, California, you have rights. At Azadian Law Group, PC, our sexual harassment attorneys stand up for employees’ rights and will not stop until you get the maximum recovery you deserve.

What Is Sexual Harassment Legally Defined As?

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The term “sexual harassment” refers to the unwanted sexual advances of another individual or physical, verbal, and/or visual conduct of an inappropriate sexual nature that creates an offensive, intimidating, and/or hostile work environment based on the sex of an employee.

Under the laws of California, sexual harassment, and the behaviors associated with it, do not need to be out of sexual desire. If the offensive actions are in response to an employee’s actual or perceived sex or gender identity, actual or perceived sexual orientation, sex-related medical conditions, pregnancy, or childbirth, they are still very much considered to be sexual harassment.

When talking about sexual harassment, it is important to remember that people of all sexes and genders can be harassed. It is far too common that the issue of sexual harassment is thought of as only affecting the female sex or women. No matter your sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation, you can be sexually harassed.

What Does Sexual Harassment Look Like in San Bernardino, CA?

There are a lot of ways sexual harassment can appear in the workplace. Some are very blatant, but there are some that are not so obvious. Either way, all forms of sexual harassment are incredibly illegal and should not be taken lightly.

Quid Pro Quo

This type of harassment can occur blatantly or implicitly. This type of situation occurs when you are encouraged to do something for someone else in order to get something. In most cases, the offender demands sex or sexual acts before being granted a type of promotion or job advance. Other times, if a sexual advance is denied, the offender uses their position to retaliate against the employee. Usually, this retaliation is done by taking away job duties or working shifts. This type of harassment is most often seen in superior-to-employee relationships, but it’s not uncommon for it to occur employee to employee as well.

Examples of quid pro quo coercion in the workplace include:

• You go to an interview for a new job. The interviewer says that you don’t meet the qualifications but that if you have sex with them, they’ll make sure you are hired for the position.
• You’re at a happy hour with your coworkers. Your boss is there, and they begin to buy you drinks and start flirting aggressively with you. Your boss invites you back to their house and suggests that if you do, you’ll get the promotion you’ve been wanting.

You’re closing up your shift at the local restaurant. As you’re mopping the floor, your manager approaches and tries to make sexual advances. You decline, but when you check your schedule the next day, all of your shifts have been transferred to another employee.

Physical Harassment

Physical sexual harassment doesn’t have to exclusively include touching. Physical sexual harassment involves any type of harassment that you would instigate with your body. For example, unwanted obscene gestures can be designated as sexual harassment. Other, more overt forms of physical sexual harassment include unwanted touching or pulling, sexual assault, rape, or unwanted sexual advances.

Additional examples of physical harassment include:

• Another employee or your boss is constantly bumping into you or brushing up against you. Although you may make an effort to avoid them, they somehow find a way to consistently enter your personal space.
• You’re headed to the employee lounge to get a cup of coffee, and another employee uses their body to block the doorway and won’t let you pass.

Visual Harassment

Visual harassment typically occurs when one person exposes themselves to another without their consent, both in person or through photographs. Other forms of visual harassment include:

• While you are sitting at your desk, another employee is constantly staring at you. It bothers you, and you ask them to stop, but they refuse and continue to do it intentionally.
• Other employees or your boss put up posters in the workspace that are sexually explicit or are generally sexual in nature.

Under California law, you do not have to be the individual who was physically harassed to be the victim of sexual harassment. If you witnessed harassment at work, it can count as visual harassment. If sexual advances occurred in your presence, or lewd images were placed in an area you could view them (even if they weren’t intended for you), we still want to fight for the settlement you deserve.

Verbal Harassment

Many employees don’t realize that sexual harassment doesn’t have to be a physical interaction. Verbal harassment and abuse can be just as harmful as sexual. Verbal abuse can be mentally and emotionally damaging and cause the victim psychological harm. If a victim’s workplace becomes a psychologically unsafe environment, they may miss work to avoid the situation, resulting in lost wages, ineligibility for promotions, and potential termination of employment. Examples of being sexually harassed verbally are:

• On your way to your car, you are being whistled at or catcalled.
• Another employee or your boss has written you sexually explicit and degrading emails, physical letters, or text messages.
• Even though you’ve said no several times, an individual won’t stop badgering you to go on a date with them.
• Another individual asks you personal questions about your sex life or sexual experiences.

Gender Discrimination

Gender and/or sex discrimination is also a form of sexual harassment. It occurs when you, or another individual, are being treated unequally in comparison to your peers because of your sex, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation. You can also be discriminated against because of the sex, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation of a partner, person you are affiliated with, or organization that you are affiliated with.

Like most forms of sexual harassment and discrimination, gender discrimination is not always obvious. Many people are implicitly discriminated against, meaning that they receive more disciplinary actions, including performance improvement plans and verbal coaching sessions, because of their sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Sometimes it is hard to tell if that is specifically why you are being treated this way, but if you have any suspicion that you are experiencing gender discrimination in the workplace, you should begin to collect evidence right away. Evidence of gender discrimination, including any disciplinary forms, will make it hard to deny your case.

Contact Us Today

If you have been sexually harassed in the workplace, it can be frightening and embarrassing. However, you have the right to be safe and free from intimidation at work. Let us fight for you. The San Bernardino harassment attorneys at the Azadian Law Group, PC want to represent you, and make sure you receive the settlement you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation today.