What is Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
In Washington, D.C., as well as the United States, sexual harassment is considered or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment.
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency enforcing workplace sexual harassment law, sexual harassment does not have to be sexual in nature. It could be offensive remarks about a person’s sex, even if it’s about women in general. Victims and harassers can be men or women. The victim and harasser can be the same sex, too. The law defining sexual harassment is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
In the workplace, sexual harassment becomes unlawful in one of two ways:
- Sexual conduct becomes a condition of your continued employment.
- Sexual harassment pervasive or severe enough that you consider your work environment abusive, hostile or intimidating.
About the Harasser in a Washington, D.C Sexual Harassment Claim
Who Could Be a Harasser?
Your harasser can be a supervisor in another department, your direct supervisor, a non-employee, or a co-worker. A non-employee may be your employer’s client or customer. Also, sexual harassment laws don’t require your harasser to be the opposite gender. The person harassing you can be a man or woman.
In the District of Columbia, you’re not required to be the direct victim of the sexual harassment incident. This means that you can file a sexual harassment claim even if you weren’t directly harassed by the person. According to sexual discrimination laws, anyone can be affected by sexually offensive conduct.
Contact HKM Employment Attorneys LLP
Your employer may be liable for the sexual harassment by their employees that results in a negative action, such as loss of wages, termination or failure to hire or promote. If your employer’s hostile work environment created a terrible work environment, contact HKM Employment Attorneys LLP.
One of the first steps is to file a claim with the appropriate discrimination agency. Remedies for sexual harassment include back pay, attorney’s fees, compensatory damages, and punitive damages. The type of damages you may receive depends on your claim. Contact one of our sexual harassment lawyers to understand your legal rights and how to protect them. Our law firm is ready to work your sexual harassment claim in Washington, D.C.
