Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexually harassing conduct need not be motivated by sexual desire. The conduct must explicitly or implicitly affect the person’s employment, unreasonably interfere with work performance, or create an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. Sexual harassment is determined on what is said and done, no matter the subjective intent of the alleged harasser.
The Bloom Firm represents both employees and employers in sexual harassment cases. We protect our clients’ rights and zealously advocate on their behalf.
Examples of sexual harassment include:
- Unwanted sexual advances or contact;
- Offering employment benefits in exchange for sex;
- Retaliation or threatening retaliation if sexual advances are refused;
- Leering, sexual gestures, display of suggestive objects or pictures;
- Communications of derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, and jokes;
- Sexually abusive, suggestive, graphic or obscene language in reference to a person’s body;
In most circumstances, employees are required by law to report the alleged harassment to management or human resources in order to successfully sue an employer. An employer may have a valid defense to a sexual harassment claim if it promptly and thoroughly investigates the claims and takes appropriate action.
The Bloom Firm helps employees who are subject to sexual harassment as well as employers who have wrongly been accused of harassment. If you want to learn more about sexual harassment law or have questions or concerns about a possible legal claim of sexual harassment, contact The Bloom Firm today so we can talk about the situation, the applicable laws and next-step suggestions.