Everyone deserves to be treated equally and respectfully in the workplace. For many, it is where we spend the majority of our waking hours. If someone is making your job difficult because of workplace harassment, you may have a claim against that person or against your employer. The experienced employment attorneys at Williams Iagmin have handled many cases of workplace harassment and we take pride in their personalized approach to each and every case.
Under California law, unlawful workplace harassment occurs when a person directs negative, inappropriate, or unwanted conduct at another person in the workplace that is focused on certain characteristics. This can include the victim’s race, disability, gender, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or pregnancy. Workplace harassment can come in many forms, but the most common types of workplace harassment include the following:
● Inappropriate jokes ● Derogatory comments and innuendo ● Unwanted touching or hitting ● Verbal threats, outright or implied ● Visual harassment with posters or signs ● Aggressive or repeated requests for sexual favors ● Showing favoritism based on a characteristic
However, it is important to note that not all negative or unwanted actions in the workplace rise to the level of workplace harassment. In order to qualify as workplace harassment, the actions must be motivated by an unlawful reason, such as targeting a person for harassment based on a protected class. The severity, frequency, and context of the conduct is also taken into consideration when determining whether actions constitute harassment.
For example, if a manager makes derogatory comments toward an employee because that employee is not hitting sales goals, that most likely does not rise to the level of workplace harassment. However, in the same scenario, if the manager is making those comments because the employee is a woman, that is harassment targeting a protected class and would likely rise to the level of workplace harassment. Whether or not actions in the workplace are considered harassment can be a fine line, so it is important to talk to an attorney about the specific facts of your case to learn about your legal options.
If an employer allows for their employees to be harassed, California law provides a way for victims to receive compensation for the harm caused. The individual harasser as well as the employer can be held liable for workplace harassment, and employers are strictly liable if the harasser is the employee’s supervisor or manager. If the harasser is another co-worker, the employer can be held liable if they knew or should have known about the harassment and failed to take immediate corrective action.
Compensation to victims of workplace harassment can include backpay, contributions to retirement funds, and monetary damages in addition to money for unequal pay or refusal to promote. Compensation also includes payment for attorneys’ fees, expert witness testimony, interest on amounts won in a lawsuit, and damages for the employee’s pain and suffering or emotional distress stemming from the harassment.
To learn more about your legal options regarding workplace harassment, call or contact the experienced employment attorneys at Williams Iagmin in San Diego today to schedule a free consultation of your case.
James Iagmin has more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury claims. Jim has a proven track record of achieving successful results for his clients. Jim is known for being a compassionate, caring and intelligent attorney and is recognized in the San Diego community for his integrity, character and skill has a lawyer. Jim has received numerous honors and awards for his abilities as an attorney.
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