Columbus Sexual Harassment Attorney

Sexual harassment is one type of harassment an individual can face in the workplace. Like other types of workplace harassment, sexual harassment can have a severely negative impact on the victim’s ability to perform his or her job duties.

An individual of any gender can sexually harass an individual of any other gender. It can also occur between individuals of the same gender.

Examples of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Sexual harassment in the workplace can be divided into two broad categories: quid pro quo sexual harassment and sexual harassment that creates a hostile work environment.

Quid pro quo, Latin for “this for that,” sexual harassment requires a power imbalance between the perpetrator and the victim. It is the exchange of favorable treatment for sexual activity.

Examples of quid pro quo sexual harassment include:

• Offering a raise, promotion, or other advancement opportunity in exchange for sexual or romantic contact;
• Withholding raises and promotions and subjecting an employee to harassment and other forms of unfair treatment if he or she does not comply with a supervisor’s request for sexual contact; and
• Requiring an employee’s continuing acceptance of sexual harassment as a condition of employment.

Sexual harassment that does not involve an exchange, but otherwise creates an abusive or intimidating workplace culture is known as hostile work environment sexual harassment.

Examples of this include:

• Sharing offensive images, videos, and other content with colleagues;
• Touching other employees in a sexual manner without their consent;
• Asking inappropriate, invasive questions about an individual’s sexual or romantic life or making comments in a similar vein; and
• Referring to employees by sexual nicknames like “cutie,” “sexy,” or “baby.”

Your Rights and Options as a Sexual Harassment Victim

When you face sexual harassment at work, you have the right to report it to your supervisor and to Human Resources. Your company has the responsibility to put a stop to any sexual harassment that occurs at the workplace. If your employer has a reporting protocol in place, follow it and support your report with any evidence you have that shows who harassed you, the nature of the harassment, and the dates and times of the incidents you faced.

If your company cannot resolve the issue, you have the right to file a sexual harassment claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Following an investigation of your claim, the EEOC may facilitate a settlement between you and the company or provide you with the groundwork to file a sexual harassment lawsuit. Working with an experienced employment lawyer will strengthen your case, increasing your chance of recovering compensation for your damages.

Work with an Experienced Columbus Sexual Harassment Lawyer

If you faced any type of sexual harassment and work and suffered financial damages as a result, you have the right to pursue monetary compensation for your damages with an experienced sexual harassment lawyer. To learn more and start working on your case, contact our team at Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC today to schedule your initial consultation with us.