The estimated value of a sexual harassment lawsuit in California ranges from $30,000 to $200,000. Sexual harassment claims result in settlements that vary significantly based on the severity of harassment, number of incidents, strength of the evidence, and the skill of the attorney representing you.
The damages you can receive and how much you can obtain in total depends on many specific details, which we can go over with you during a free consultation. Sadly, these incidents in the workplace are very common, and some cases are tried before a judge and jury. But well over 90% of sexual harassment lawsuits are settled between the two parties through private negotiations.
Compensation Amounts for Sexual Harassment Victims
If you look at statistics nationwide, it would appear that sexual harassment claims against employers normally have values ranging from $30,000 to $50,000. However, California has some of the strongest and most progressive employment laws in the U.S. As a result, settlements obtained by claimants in California for sexual harassment are typically higher than the national average. Furthermore, settlements for workplace harassment can vary between major cities like Los Angeles and smaller communities and rural areas.
Compensation available from a sexual harassment lawsuit includes lost wages, like front and back pay. Victims can also sue the employer for emotional distress to make up for the psychological damage caused by the harassment.
Types of Workplace Sexual Harassment
In order to file a claim against your employer, you must establish that the conduct you are experiencing meets the legal standard for sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace includes a variety of overt and subtle acts, but they generally fall within one or more of the following categories:
- Quid pro quo: a supervisor or coworker makes a direct offer or implies that they will provide some sort of employment benefit in exchange for sexual favors
- Retaliation: the employer takes punitive actions (termination, demotion, etc.) against an employee that complains about, files a claim, or participates in an investigation on sexual harassment in the workplace
- Hostile work environment: the employer creates or contributes to a work environment that is offensive, intimidating, and hostile. For example, the targeted employee of group of employees are constantly subjected to sexual comments, gestures, unwelcome advances, and displays of sexually inappropriate material.
What to Do if You are being Sexually Harassed
It’s not a pleasant task, but filing a report with your HR department is the first thing you should do when you are faced with unwelcome sexual advances, solicitation, and other acts of sexual harassment. This step is crucial to your legal rights, as your employer is required by law to investigate the allegations. The investigation must be thorough and detailed, without any bias for one party over the other. As part of the investigation, all the involved parties, including any witnesses must be interviewed.
To ensure that you have a solid case, make sure to gather any evidence related to your case and keep it in a safe place. This includes a copy of the complaint you filed with HR, along with emails, texts, photos, and anything else to show that you are being sexually harassed by someone at work.
Consulting an experienced sexual harassment lawyer is in your best interest, as the process of suing an employer is incredibly complex. This is particularly true with harassment complaints, which often result in retaliations and employment violations by the employer.
Filing a Lawsuit for Sexual Harassment at Your Job
If your employer fails to resolve the problem of sexual harassment by a supervisor or co-worker, you may need to file a lawsuit in order to obtain justice. A lawsuit is critical if you were subjected to punitive actions, like being fired, losing a bonus, or salary reduction, because you went to HR or filed a complaint with a state or federal agency.
Please note that most cases are resolved by settling the matter out of court. Essentially, both sides will exchange offers of compensation until an agreement is reached. You should have an attorney representing you, as they can help you figure out the right amount to ask for and fight to ensure that you are treated fairly.
A workplace sexual harassment attorney can also take your case to trial if needed, though as we said before, this is unnecessary for most people. You can be certain that your employer will put up a rigorous defense with help from an experienced legal team. That’s why you we urge you to contact our law firm, where you can be helped by a lawyer that specializes in sexual harassment complaints.
Financial Compensation for Employees
Sexual harassment has harmful effects that can affect your life for many years to come. Your employer may retaliate against you for speaking out, including subjecting you to a toxic work environment that’s unbearable to the point where quitting is the only option (constructive discharge). In addition, you are likely to have psychological trauma from the harassment and your employer’s failure to protect your rights. Victims of sexual harassment can sue for economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Back and front pay
- Lost work benefits
- Damage to your professional reputation
- Emotional distress
- Reinstatement of your job, if applicable
- Punitive damages
- Legal fees
Legal Advice from a Sexual Harassment Lawyer
No matter what type of harassment you are dealing with at your job, it’s important to find out about your rights and legal options from an experienced attorney. Our law firm has decades of experience in the fight against bullying, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace. We are here for you every step of the way, and you can count on us to secure the compensation you deserve by law.
If you hire us to represent you in a claim for sexual harassment, we promise to accept your case on contingency. That way, you do have to worry about paying us a retainer or hourly rate for legal services. Attorney’s fees will come from your employer as a part of your settlement award and nowhere else, meaning you pay $0 if we fail to bring you a successful resolution. That’s our promise to you under the Zero Fee Guarantee, which you can learn more about during a free, private case review.
Our legal team is here to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group today if you are a victim of workplace sexual harassment.
