Ventura and Santa Barbara Sexual Harassment Lawyers
Workplace sexual harassment is a serious issue that affects many people. It can lead to physical and emotional trauma, as well as mental health issues. Sexual harassment can have a detrimental effect on everyone in an organization, including those who are not directly affected by the behavior.
At the Law Office of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC, we have worked with countless sexual harassment victims. Speak with our Santa Barbara and Ventura sexual harassment lawyers today to get the justice you deserve.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment can occur in different scenarios. First, it can happen when a person in a position of power or authority continues to make requests for sexual favors or unwelcome sexual advances when one of the following is true:
- Submission to such conduct becomes a condition for employment.
- Submission (or refusal to submit) to such conduct becomes the basis for decisions affecting the employee's terms and conditions of employment.
The above is called quid pro quo harassment and is committed by a boss or someone else who has discretion over your employment conditions.
Sexual harassment also can happen when a coworker or someone else at work creates a hostile environment. This can happen through offensive and persistent comments, gestures, advances, messages, or other conduct.
If you feel that your employer is not taking steps to stop sexual harassment in the workplace, don't be afraid to speak up. You must inform your employer of a hostile work environment before you can take legal action. If you experienced quid pro quo harassment or if your employer refuses to rectify a hostile work environment, you should contact an attorney immediately.
Don't Brush Off Sexual Harassment
Victims often make excuses when they are being harassed because they do not want to cause problems or get anyone else in trouble. However, ignoring the situation often means it will only get worse.
In some cases, abusers use their position of power over subordinates by threatening them with termination or other negative consequences if victims report incidents of abuse. Know that such retaliation is also unlawful, and if this happens to you, discuss the matter with our sexual harassment lawyers as soon as you can.
Victims of sexual harassment are often forced to leave their jobs because their working conditions become intolerable. However, it is still possible for victims in these situations to seek legal recourse against the organization where this behavior occurred.
Hire an Experienced Santa Barbara and Ventura Sexual Harassment Lawyer to Represent You
If you are being sexually harassed at work, ignoring the problem will only make it worse. At the Law Office of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC, our lawyers have several years of experience representing victims, and we can help you get justice for your situation. We know that no two cases are alike, so give us a call today to discuss how best to proceed with your claim in detail.
Sexual harassment is a very traumatic experience for its victims, but the good news is that you can achieve justice by hiring a highly experienced attorney. If you're interested in learning more about how we can help, contact us today to receive a free case evaluation.