The legal definition of sexual harassment is “unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions or creates a hostile work environment.” When behavior is interfering with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment, it must be stopped. Hostile work environments include unwelcome sexual advances or propositions, unwanted sexual touching or gestures, sexual jokes, pictures, or derogatory comments, and gender discrimination. If employees can show that the workplace conduct was offensive and that they did not consent to any of the conduct, they may be able to recover damages for lost wages, emotional distress and attorney fees. Employers may also face punitive damages.
At Hall Law Associates, we help victims of sexual harassment pursue much-needed justice.
