Harassment at work represents a serious problem, capable of generating a hostile environment with repercussions of emotional, physical and financial impact for those who suffer it. If you are an employee who faces this situation and do not know how to stop it, below, we give you the information you need to obtain the help of workplace harassment lawyers and how they can defend your rights in the United States, as well as to use mechanisms that also to protect you legally, they can benefit you by obtaining compensation.

Do you know what harassment at work is?

Surely you have heard about the subject, or perhaps you have felt that you may be a victim of some form of harassment in your workplace, but… do you really know what harassment at work is so as not to confuse it with other situations that, although annoying, cannot be classified? as such from a legal point of view?

To clarify the doubt and know if you require the services of a workplace harassment lawyer, we will begin by saying that the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or Commission for Equal Employment in Spanish, defines harassment as a form of employment discrimination. that violates federal laws intended to offer protection to employees, as well as help stop such attacks.

In this way, when any person violates the provisions established in the following federal laws: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 , they would be in presence of a situation of workplace harassment that warrants the intervention and advice of a legal representative expert in the issue of violence at work.

Likewise, at the state level, employees also have laws for their protection. Take the state of California, for example, where the Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits workplace harassment by classifying it as unwanted conduct suffered by a person or group of people as a result of broad categorization.

When you go to a lawyer specializing in workplace harassment cases located in the town where you live in the United States, he will explain the laws that defend your labor rights and how to protect yourself in each specific situation.

Do employers have a responsibility to prevent and stop workplace harassment?

Although this is a complex situation and there are no unique solutions, to help defend yourself, as lawyers who are experts in workplace harassment issues in the USA, we recommend that you know the code of conduct and labor policies implemented by your employer. Policies that complement the protection offered by federal and state laws aimed at preventing any manifestation of hostility in the work environment.

Most common forms of workplace harassment

Lawyers dedicated to the issue of workplace harassment in the United States have experience with the various hostile behaviors that usually occur in any job and to which we are all exposed:

• Intimidating attitudes or threats.
• Insults, mockery or cruel jokes and offensive comments.
• Unwanted physical contact and attacks.
• Unwanted sexual advances.
• Dissemination of offensive images, gestures or objects.
• Other conduct classified as offensive.

It is important to highlight that, to speak of workplace harassment, the behavior of the aggressor or aggressors must be sufficiently repetitive and serious , capable of producing a work environment that is intimidating, offensive or downright hostile, interfering with your ability to perform your tasks. as an employee Making it essential thatKnow that you can go to a workplace harassment lawyer to stop it and enforce your labor rights.

And… What about sexual harassment at work?

Sexual harassment in the work environment is a form of discrimination based on sex , gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation . It should be noted that it manifests itself regardless of identity, gender expression or sexual orientation, between people of the opposite sex or the same sex.

Attorneys in the United States, in many cases, represent workers who have been exposed to the following behaviors that may be considered sexual harassment :

• Request for sexual favors in exchange for some benefit at work
• Lewd looks or gestures
• Unwanted or inappropriate sexual advances
• Unwanted physical contact
• Display of sexually explicit or suggestive content
• Sexual or derogatory comments about a certain gender
• Comments, jokes, and other forms of verbal expression about sexual activities

Keep in mind that the harassing person can be anyone within the area of the work environment, from a supervisor, a manager, a boss, another co-worker or even someone without an employment relationship but who frequents the facilities such as a supplier or a client.

Your lawyer in the USA tells you how to deal with workplace harassment

If as an employee you suffer or suspect that you are going through an incident where you feel harassed due to some type of discrimination or bias that violates your integrity, contact your workplace harassment lawyer in the United States for a confidential and free consultation.

As a prior recommendation, it is advisable that you report the harassment in writing to some company authority . If the situation persists, you must act in an informed manner, following a series of steps that will facilitate future legal processes:

Record every incident of harassment

A detailed record begins, with a complete description of what happened indicating place, time and date. If possible, identify potential witnesses, whose testimony could be very helpful.

Consult with a Qualified Workplace Harassment Lawyer

After documenting the facts, proceed to contact a lawyer with experience in workplace harassment cases, who will offer you an initial evaluation and guide you on the steps to follow.

For example, an essential requirement for your claim to succeed is to comply with strict rules and deadlines, aspects that a workplace harassment lawyer in the USA knows perfectly well by staying up to date with these regulations.

Report to the appropriate government agency

It is a required step prior to initiating any lawsuit or claim for workplace harassment. Taking into account that the agencies, procedures and deadlines for filing a complaint may vary in different states.

If you decide to formalize your complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), you have a period of 180 days.

Once the complaint is formalized, the government agency competent to take on the case will begin a review phase of the claim. If evidence is found, the pertinent investigation will be carried out. Subsequently, if the facts are justified, you can file a claim for workplace harassment, allowing you to take civil action against the employer or alleged aggressor.

What can a workplace harassment lawyer in the USA do for you?

In the area where you live in the United States, lawyers specializing in the defense of workplace harassment cases, among other activities, can:

• Explain your labor rights and applicable laws in your particular situation.
• Give you information about the claim or lawsuit process, depending on the jurisdiction where it is filed.
• Evaluate the most convenient legal options.
• Undertake investigations, contact witnesses or gather evidence to support the case.
• Calculate fair compensation in proportion to the damages suffered.
• Prepare and file the necessary legal documents.
• Ensure that statutes of limitations and deadlines are met.
• Represent your interests when negotiating with the parties, so that you obtain the compensation you deserve.
• If necessary, act as your legal representative in the event of a labor trial.

Receive the best legal advice, without paying anything up front. You will only pay the fees once your case is resolved, either through an agreement or through court.

If you are or have been a victim of workplace harassment in the USA, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the damages caused. A workplace harassment lawyer will be your ally in presenting your claim appropriately and in a timely manner.