If your boss asks for sexual favors in exchange for a raise or a promotion, or if your co-workers taunt you with unwelcome sexual remarks and conduct, you may be the victim of sexual harassment.
If you have been the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, the attorneys of Barry & Loewy LLP can help. We will use every resource at our command to make sure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and violates Texas laws when it interferes with your job. It includes sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Harassment occurs when submission to the conduct, or rejection of it, unreasonably interferes with your work performance or creates a hostile work environment.
Sexual harassment is banned by the Texas Labor Code as well as federal Title VII statutes. It can occur in a variety of circumstances:
- The victim does not have to be the opposite sex of the harasser. For instance, the harasser and the victim can both be men or both be women. That’s known as same sex harassment.
- The harasser can be your supervisor, a supervisor that works in another part of the company, a co-worker or even a non-employee.
- The victim does not have to be the person harassed. Anyone affected by the offensive conduct may have a claim of sexual harassment.
- The victim does not have to suffer loss of money or lose their job to have a valid claim for unlawful sexual harassment.
The victim should tell the harasser that the conduct is unwelcome and asked that it cease. Any complaint or grievance procedures that the employer has in place should be followed. For their part, employers should let their employees know that sexual harassment will not be tolerated and take immediate measures when an employee complains.
But sometimes that does not bring an end to the harassment and a formal complaint must be filed. Those cases may require you to file complex documents with the Texas Commission on Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. You may also have a trial in state or federal court.
Not all sexual conduct in the workplace gives you a cause of action, and not all employees are covered by state or federal laws. The attorneys of Barry & Loewy LLP are familiar with the sexual harassment laws and can help you evaluate your claim.
We represent plaintiffs in a wide variety of employment disputes, including cases of sexual harassment. If you think you have been the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, please contact Barry & Loewy LLP today.
