Harassment in the workplace is a serious problem that can create immense challenges for anyone who experiences it. Unfortunately, many employers do not take action to prevent or minimize the impact of harassment. If you find yourself dealing with ongoing harassment in the workplace, an El Segundo workplace harassment lawyer could help you protect your rights. The employee rights attorneys at Employee Civil Rights Group are knowledgeable about employment law and could work toward securing a favorable outcome in your case.
Workplace harassment can occur in many ways, often due to a worker’s protected class or status. While harassment is often based on race, religion, sexuality, and other protected characteristics, it can also include other factors, such as a worker’s appearance.
Rude or offensive jokes, including those directed at someone else’s race, religion, gender, or sexuality, have no place in the workplace and can be considered harassment.
Direct insults against a coworker for any reason, including those in a protected class, are examples of harassment. These insults can either be spoken to the coworker directly or mentioned to another coworker.
Bullying should never be allowed in the workplace. Bullies may engage in physically or verbally harassing behavior, from forcing a coworker to engage in specific activities to physically pushing or otherwise harming them.
Sexual harassment in the workplace includes any unwanted sexual attention, including repeated comments about someone’s appearance or date requests. Sexual harassment also includes unwanted physical contact.
Physical threats and intimidation can quickly make a worker feel as though they have few or no options to protect themselves. Some employers or coworkers may use those threats to force an employee to do what they want, whether it is taking an undesirable shift or performing duties outside their stated work requirements.
Regardless of the type of harassment, an El Segundo workplace rights lawyer could explain your legal options and help you seek justice.
Dealing with workplace harassment can feel incredibly frustrating. Many workers do not want to cause “drama” or worry about retaliation. However, in order to protect yourself, it is crucial to take the following steps:
Your employer cannot retaliate against you for reporting harassment in the workplace. However, having legal counsel on your side early in the process could increase the chances that your employer will take the claim seriously from the start. Do not hesitate to contact a lawyer in El Segundo if you are experiencing any type of workplace harassment.
Workplace harassment makes it difficult to do your job effectively and can interfere with your mental health and overall quality of life. If you find yourself dealing with harassment in the workplace, we encourage you to reach out to an El Segundo workplace harassment lawyer at Employee Civil Rights Group to discuss next steps.