Sexual harassment is that kind of activity that not only puts the person’s mental and emotional health at stake but also the reputation of the workplace. Sexual harassment at the workplace hampers the ability of the employee to perform well a d if you have been a victim of it, you have all the right to call sexual harassment attorneys Los Angeles. Since the ‘Me Too’ movement started, many people have started coming up with their sexual harassment at workplace stories which were hidden for such a long time.

As per the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), sexual harassment is a type of discrimination that breaches the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The examples of sexual harassment are:

• Making sexual remarks

• Making sexual favors

• Uncomfortable touch

• Sending vulgar messages of pictures without consent

• Verbal or physical misconduct

• Unethical sexual advances

These are some of the types but not limited when it comes to sexual harassment. If you have suffered any of the above incidents at the workplace, you can directly file litigation of sexual harassment in the court of law.

Types of sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is a type of discrimination of sex that is safeguarded under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Hence, it has two types.

#1 Hostile Work Environment

In a hostile work environment, sexual harassment happens when a co-worker or the employer at the workplace makes uncomfortable, threatening, or bullying remarks, comments, or jokes or asks for sexual favors or makes sexual harassment which in turn hampers the ability of the employee to perform his or her best in the office. This type of harassment is that kind of conduct that makes the work environment negative and uncomfortable. Some of the examples include making sexual jokes or sending inappropriate emails or texts, insults of sexual nature, repeatedly groping or touching someone to name a few.

#2 Quid Pro Quo

Quid Pro Quo, which means ‘something for something’ means a co-worker, generally, the employer or the supervisor or the manager asking the other employee or junior for sexual favors in return for any kind of employment benefit. To explain it in simple words, here is an example of quid pro quo sexual harassment. If the supervisor asks the lower-level employee to do any kind of sexual favor for him or her in exchange for any kind of work advantage like a raise or a promotion etc, then it falls under the quid pro quo sexual harassment.

Quid Pro Quo is different from the hostile work environment sexual harassment because here it involves a senior-level employee taking advantage of a lower-level employee in exchange for something. These kinds of incidents take a very serious turn as the victim feels that he or she is left with no choice but to agree or else he or she can lose the job and suffer professionally.

When is the right time to seek a lawyer?

When you become a victim of sexual harassment, you lose your ability to think rationally and that is why you have loads of questions before you want to do anything. But all you have to remember that being an employee, you have certain rights that need to be protected. You might have an employer’s policy under which you can report the sexual harassment incident to HR. along with that, it is always recommended to consult a sexual harassment attorney who can help you outline the whole thing for you and guide you to whom you should submit the report of sexual harassment.

If you feel that your company policy for sexual harassment is not doing anything good to you, then your lawyer would tell you to go ahead and file the litigation. You can file charges against your employer with EEOC or with the state’s anti-discrimination agency. An experienced lawyer would make sure that you are getting all the claims for suffering mentally, physically, and emotionally at your workplace. Once you consult a sexual harassment attorney Los Angeles, be sure that the lawyer knows your options and is there to protect your rights through the whole process.