Protections in Place for Victims

There are state, city, and federal laws designed to protect victims of sexual harassment. Bonnaig & Associates, LLC has helped men and women force permanent changes so others do not have to experience this type of behavior. If you or a loved one believes they have been the victim of sexual harassment, now is the time to take action. Even one consultation with us may be enough to educate you about your rights so that you can spur your employer to take corrective action without losing your job.

Victims of sexual harassment can be male, female, straight, or homosexual. Victims do not have to be of the opposite sex either. The harassment can come from a supervisor, a supervisor from another area of the company, a coworker or even a non-employee, client, or agent of the company.

<h6>Consequences of Sexual Harassment</h6>

In a claim for a hostile work environment, the victim does not need to be directly harassed. Lawsuits can be filed if the person if a person feels the work environment is intimidating, hostile, or offensive because of sexual comments, jokes, text messages, emails, phone calls, or unwelcome physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature which interferes with the individuals work performance or employment.

<h6>Human Resources Is Not Your Friend</h6>

You have probably been told that if you are being sexually harassed, you should immediately report the incident to your company’s Human Resources Department. However, if circumstances permit and you are not in a life-threatening situation, it is best to consult with an experienced employment lawyer about your situation before reporting the acts of sexual harassment to Human Resources.

The allegiance of Human Resources lies firmly with your employer. These representatives are often well-spoken and have received extensive training on resolving disputes in the workplace:

⦁ Though they may behave like advocates for employees, their job is not to advocate for employees.
⦁ Their ultimate goal is to avoid potential litigation and protect the company from any legal trouble.
⦁ They are not paid to represent you or to protect your interests and rights in the workplace.

In many cases, when an employee goes to Human Resources to report sexual harassment without first consulting with an experienced employment lawyer, Human Resources will blame the employee — the victim — for having behavioral or performance problems.

You need an advocate that represents you and is devoted to protecting your interests.

Protect Yourself No Matter What

Under no circumstances should you remain silent about the problem. Even if you are worried about retaliation or concerned that people will not believe you, you must take action. Our team at Bonnaig & Associates, LLC has a great deal of experience litigating difficult sexual harassment cases. Very often we are able to help clients put an end to it.

Seeing an attorney immediately also means you are protecting your rights and the rights of others. If your employer knows you are already consulting with an attorney, your employer will be hesitant to threaten you or fire you in response to your coming forward. In other words, retaining an experienced employment lawyer to assist you in reporting the sexual harassment is like putting on a bullet-proof vest. If you come forward in asserting your rights, the employer will also be more likely to respect the rights of other employees who come forward.

Sexual harassment, unfortunately, remains a serious problem facing employees in virtually all lines of work today. If you are a victim of this behavior or know someone who is, stand up and act. Come and seek help from an experienced legal professional as soon as you can.