Sexual harassment is something we hear about often enough in the news or through social media. But did you ever stop to think about how you would handle things if you were sexually harassed at your job? Maybe you are already dealing with sexual harassment as a USC employee and have questions about your rights and legal options.
Are you a former worker at USC who was let go from your job, and you suspect that it’s due to your complaints about sexual harassment? Are you being harassed currently at your job by a manger, supervisor, or other coworkers? Did you complain about the issue, only to find that it wasn’t taken seriously by the university?
Those who are subjected to harassing behavior in the workplace have the right to file a complaint and be protected from further incidents of harassment. If your employer failed to respect your rights in the workplace, you may be entitled to monetary compensation from a sexual harassment lawsuit. For more information from a USC sexual harassment lawyer, contact California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group as soon as possible.
What is Sexual Harassment?
As it relates to a work environment, sexual harassment is a form of discrimination that’s based on sex. More specifically, it’s any type of sexual conduct that’s unwelcome, like inappropriate touching, sexual assault, solicitation for sexual favors, and sexual jokes / comments.
Please note that sexual harassment does not need to be directed at any specific person. For example, you may have a supervisor that constantly makes sexual references and talks about his love life in front of everyone. This, too, can count as sexual harassment in the workplace, and you have a right to go to Human Resources to report such behavior. At the end of the day, many misconceptions exist when it comes to sexual harassment, which is why you should consider the following points:
- There is an assumption that sexual harassment is mostly directed at females, but men are just as vulnerable to solicitation, sexual comments, assault, and other forms of harassment based on sex.
- For the most part, the harassment comes from supervisors, managers, or coworkers. However, you can also be sexually harassed by clients and other visitors that frequent your workplace.
If you need more information on sexual harassment in the workplace, don’t hesitate to call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Examples of Sexual Harassment at Work
It can be easy to doubt yourself when you suspect that you are being sexually harassed. This is particularly true if the offender apologizes or tries to brush things off as a joke. That’s why it’s important for people working at USC or anywhere else to recognize the signs of sexual harassment. Consider the following examples:
- You open an email from your manager and find there are inappropriate pictures of a sexual nature. Your manager later approaches you and talks about sexually inappropriate subjects, even though you express that it makes you uncomfortable.
- While you are in a meeting with coworkers, they start to make jokes about your looks and how you receive preferential treatment as a result. When you get offended and try to leave the room, one of them blocks the doorway and leers at you up and down in a sexual manner.
- You are inside an office closet looking for supplies when your manager corners you and asks for sexual favors in exchange for certain work privileges.
- During a job interview, the manager interviewing you promises that you will make progress faster at the company if you stay on his good side. He also mentions how attractive you are and proceeds to sit very close to you so that your knees are touching.
Please note that these are fairly obvious examples, but many cases are much more subtle. This is why you should consult a lawyer that specializes in sexual harassment to see if your rights are being violated. If you were fired or subjected to a hostile work environment due to sexual harassment, you have the right to seek justice under the law. Make sure to contact California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to discuss your experience with a USC sexual harassment attorney.
Laws that Prohibit Sexual Harassment
All employees can benefit from learning about the laws that prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace. Certain protections are guaranteed by state and federal laws, which include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. This is a federal statute, but California employees are also protected by the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Both of these laws make it illegal for employers to discriminate against an employee based on sex and other protected characteristics. That means sexual harassment is illegal, and so is firing an employee or making other adverse employment decisions that are rooted in sexual harassment. For example, an employee at USC may be demoted and eventually fired because they refused to give into a supervisor’s advances.
Filing a Sexual Harassment Lawsuit against USC
If your right to work in a place free of sexual harassment has been violated, you can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is a federal agency. Alternatively, you can report your employer to the California Civil Rights Department. Based on their findings, either agency may send you a Right to Sue notice, which gives you the option of suing USC for sexual harassment.
As lawsuits are extremely complex legal actions with tight deadlines, you should contact a sexual harassment lawyer as soon as possible. In fact, it’s best to have a lawyer assist you right from the start, thereby ensuring a smooth transition between an EEOC or CRD complaint and litigation for sexual harassment if you are permitted to file a lawsuit. The legal team here at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group is ready to guide you every step of the way, and we will not rest until you are fairly compensated by the people that harmed you.
Recovering Compensation for Your Claim
Ensuring that an unjust employer pays for their actions is one of the reasons to file a sexual harassment lawsuit. But you also deserve compensation for lost wages and other financial losses that occurred through no fault of your own. Depending on the level of abuse, you may also have significant mental health issues that merit compensation.
From a lawsuit against USC for sexual harassment, you may be eligible for damages such as lost income (including value of lost job benefits), pain and suffering, loss of professional reputation, and punitive damages. In some cases, you can ask to be reinstated to your former position, but many of our clients decide that cutting ties with their employer is for the best. Ultimately, each case is unique, and there are many factors that determine what and how much you can receive from a sexual harassment lawsuit. The average case value for a USC sexual harassment case is around $300,000, and some claimants receive close to or over $1,000,000.
If you are ready to learn about the compensation that can be recovered from a sexual harassment claim against USC, please schedule a time to speak with our legal experts.
Contact Our Law Firm Today
Help from a USC sexual harassment lawyer is available to you 24/7, so please get in touch with us at your earliest opportunity. Sexual harassment is an on-going problem that affects many workers throughout the world, but thankfully, more victims are speaking out and demanding justice. We are here to join you in the fight against sexual harassment and other abusive practices in the workplace. With our track record of recovery in sexual assault and harassment lawsuits, you can be sure of receiving the highest possible settlement with our attorneys by your side.
We don’t believe in charging victims for legal representation, and that’s the principle behind the Zero Fee Guarantee here at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group. You pay us $0 if you wish to proceed with legal action, and we ask the cost of legal services to be paid for by the party at fault. So, that means we make absolutely nothing if you don’t receive compensation from a sexual harassment lawsuit.
To discuss your case with a USC sexual harassment lawsuit attorney, contact our office to receive a free consultation.
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