Sexual harassment in the workplace is an important problem, but unfortunately, workers who are subjected to such harassment are rarely paid their fair share of compensation, and the responsible parties are seldom punished. Companies often prefer to grant their workers and supervisors many chances. Sexual harassment victims are usually fired for no particular reason and are not given the opportunity for justice. Walmart is one such company that is guilty of these acts. If Walmart wrongfully and illegally fired you after you reported sexual harassment, know that you are not alone and that you can find help. You could file a class action lawsuit against Walmart for sexual harassment or simply file a claim with just yourself as the plaintiff. Our law firm, the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, is here to make sure that a Walmart workplace sexual harassment attorney handles your case and wins you the compensation you deserve.
What is sexual harassment in the workplace?
Workplace sexual harassment is divided into two categories: quid pro quo harassment and harassment in a hostile workplace environment.
Quid pro quo harassment is equivalent to “this for that.” Some workers may propose employment or promotions in exchange for sexual favors, which is an example of quid pro quo harassment. The primary factor besides the exchange, though, is the power or authority displacement.
A supervisor, manager, CEO, boss, or other employee must be in a position to negatively affect your job status or responsibilities. If the coworker cannot do anything but file a complaint, it is not quid pro quo harassment. Some examples of the negative effects or the threats that accompany quid pro quo harassment include:
- Revoked insurance benefits
- Denied commissions and bonuses
- Reassignment of job position
- Blacklisting by the company to prevent you from being hired elsewhere in the industry
- Mandatory overtime with no additional overtime pay
- Wrongful termination or illegal firing
- Poor performance reviews
- Demotion or prevention of promotion
- Docked wages and income
- Reduced hours and alteration of pay
- Reassignment of job to another location
The second form of sexual harassment occurs in a hostile workplace environment. This can be committed by anyone, even superiors. Additionally, this type of sexual harassment does not need to be limited to two individual parties. You may have observed the harassment, which could be enough for you to feel uncomfortable, trigger a panic attack from a previous assault, induce a PTSD attack, and more. You could sue Walmart for sexual harassment.
Whether a manager or supervisor at Walmart sexually harassed you, someone at Walmart created a hostile work environment, or you were sexually harassed by Walmart, you should take necessary legal action.
It is very important that you fight back to prevent retaliation. Retaliation can happen after you issue a complaint; you may be fired or else punished in some way. If someone from Walmart harasses you and retaliates against you, seek help from a Walmart sexual harassment lawyer.
What constitutes sexual harassment at a Walmart?
Walmart has many employees who stock the shelves, bring merchandise off trucks into the store, man the cashiers, answer phones for customer service, work payroll and scheduling, and more. You could be cornered somewhere afterhours or during a slow hour and sexually assaulted. Some examples of sexual harassment include:
- Displaying sexually explicit objects in the office or cubicle, or giving you such objects as gifts or gags
- You were a victim of inappropriate touching
- Sexual molestation, which often afflicts minors and underage individuals at workplaces
- A coworker groped you while you were near each other, whether by feeling up your butt, chest, or other locations
- Someone sent you inappropriate pictures, whether of themselves or of others, including sexual acts, suggestive poses, other individuals, and more
- A fellow worker tried to have sexual relations with you, whether by soliciting a date, requesting time to have sex during break, and more
In addition to these forms of harassment, you could also be sexually assaulted. Rape and sexual assault involve extreme physical contact, aggression, and injuries. Rapes usually occur after the store has closed, most often in a spot where there are no cameras or people who can intervene.
If you want to discuss your case and determine if you were sexually harassed, contact a lawyer with experience in Walmart sexual harassment cases.
Filing a Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Walmart
In order to file a sexual harassment claim against Walmart, you will need adequate proof of the harassment. In some cases, it can be difficult to acquire such evidence, such as when you were illegally fired and could not return to the store. It is important to take these steps to ensure that your case is successful:
First, you should keep a journal of the sexual harassment. Include the time, date, and other details. Anyone who was involved in the incident should also be listed. Do not turn over this information to Walmart if you have not made copies of it.
Next, you should file a complaint with your boss or go to HR. Often, HR will not take action to protect the company from suffering a loss.
You should get comfortable with the sexual harassment policy of Walmart to determine what is legal, what repercussions are, who can be held liable, and more.
You will have to make copies of messages, emails, memos, and more if words were exchanged anywhere other than verbally.
If there were any security videos showing the harassment, you should acquire them, if possible. It may be hard to get a hold of these, though. It is also prudent to try and get photos, audio recordings, and personal videos of the harassment.
There may have been other coworkers who saw the harassment happen or who were also harassed by the person. You can ask that they write their statements and testimonies down to add to your evidence.
If you were sexually assaulted or raped, it is very important that you get ample medical treatment, hold onto doctor’s notes, make copies receipts, and more. You should then go to local police station to file a report.
You should not file a complaint immediately. If you do, you may be illegally terminated and not be able to acquire more proof.
Finally, you may not have any experience in legal claims, let alone filing a Walmart wrongful termination and sexual harassment lawsuit. You should seek out a lawyer who has experience in Walmart sexual harassment cases. We will be able to help you with your Walmart sexual harassment lawsuit and ensure that you are given every cent you deserve. Our Walmart discrimination attorneys will take care of everything from beginning to end.
What is the value of a Walmart sexual harassment claim?
Walmart sexual harassment cases can have an average value of more than $100,000. This is because of the lost wages and pain and suffering that generally accompany the cases. However, Walmart sexual harassment lawsuits can be worth more if some kind of sexual assault occurred or if punitive damages are awarded.
You also may be able to join or start a Walmart sexual harassment class action lawsuit. This is relevant when numerous plaintiffs want to sue the company. As a result, the total compensation may be quite large, but spread out among the plaintiffs, which could make the amount paid per plaintiff lower.
Speak with a lawyer who can help sue Walmart for sexual harassment so you can ensure that you receive the following:
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Reinstatement into your old position
- Benefits, commissions, promotions, and other types of payment
- Punitive damages
A California sexual harassment attorney for Walmart employees will gladly work with you to get the compensation you deserve.
What is the statute of limitations to sue Walmart for sexual harassment?
State claims must be filed with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which has a 1 year statute of limitations; Federal claims can be filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and have a statute of 6 months.
Our Walmart sexual harassment lawyers in Los Angeles often see people make errors and not adhere to the statutes. Call a Walmart harassment lawyer today for more assistance.
Los Angeles Walmart Sexual Harassment Lawyer
If you are in need of a law firm representing victims of sexual harassment against Walmart, the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group is the firm for you. We can provide you with a workplace sexual harassment lawyer who will look over your case and fight for you from start to finish.
Contact our office to schedule a free legal consultation with a Walmart sexual assault lawyer. We will discuss your case, what it is worth, and more. If you want to hire us, we will make sure you pay no out of pocket expenses thanks to our zero fee guarantee. This means that we only get paid if we win, and the money is taken as a portion of the settlement from Walmart. If we lose, we do not take any payment at all.
Get in touch with the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to get assistance from a Walmart wrongful termination lawyer.
