How Sexual Harassment Lawyers in New York City Can Protect Employees from Sexual Harassment

by Jackey Paual Author

Anyone who has ever experienced sexual harassment can tell you about the humiliation they endured. Victims often feel belittled, embarrassed, and angry. Many victims feel helpless because they do not know or understand their rights.

Sexual harassment lawyers in New York City can help you understand your rights. They work hard to protect employees from harassment through representation.

How Does Sexual Harassment Occur in the Workplace?

Harassment in the workplace can occur in any number of ways. They occur as unwanted sexual comments, contact, or advances.

Sexual comments can be sexual jokes, sexist comments, mistreatment emails, and more. Employers may not have policies preventing such behavior. Worse yet, some employers may not enforce policies even when they exist.

inappropriate behavior advances take comments to the next level. Instead of inappropriate language and comments, advances request sexual favors from other individuals. The favors may result in advances in the workplace (quid pro quo) or make it incredibly uncomfortable at work (hostile work environment).

Sometimes the advances appear innocent at first, like asking a coworker on a date. However, when you say no and the person continues to ask, it becomes an issue.

Other times, the advances are more offensive. Supervisors may feel entitled to ask you for mistreatment favors. They may feel you owe it to them to keep your job or simply because they asked.

They may even retaliate against employees that deny their advances. Wrongful termination, demotions, and other forms of retaliation are very common parts of sexual harassment.

Finally, sexual harassment can occur as inappropriate contact. Sometimes the sexual contact includes putting a hand on your shoulder, touching your knee, or giving a quick shoulder massage as they pass you.

Other times, sexual contact can result in penetration and other harassment acts. Sometimes, they are coerced. Other times, they are completely forced. Under the rules of sexual harassment, they are never consensual.

Do New York City Employees Have a Right to File a Claim for Sexual Harassment?

Federal and state laws prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment lawyers in Philadelphia, Miami, California, New York City, and beyond can help employees understand their rights.

All states follow the rules outlined in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Title VII is the federal law protecting employees from harassment.

Employees can file claims for Title VII sexual harassment with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The law provides 300 days to file a claim. However, it only protects employees in firms with 15 or more employees.

An experienced sexual harassment lawyer in New York City may guide you towards using the New York City Human Rights Law to file your harassment claim. The New York City Human Rights Law provides up to 3 years for an employee to file a sexual harassment claim in New York courts. The law protects employees in companies with 4 or more employees.

How Can A Sexual Harassment Lawyer in New York City help Your Protect Yourself Against Sexual Harassment?

A dedicated harassment lawyer can guide you towards justice. They can help you sort through your claim. They can assist in filing your claim with the EEOC or state court. They can advise you on the best course of action for your claim.

The goal is to make your employer take responsibility for the harassment you endured. Your exploitation lawyer in New York City will help you request damages from the courts. These damages will result in both monetary relief and other forms of relief known as injunctive relief. All damages intend to teach an employer to stop this behavior now and in the future.

If you are the victim of harassment in New York City, Contact the dedicated sexual harassment lawyers at the Derek Smith Law Group at (212) 587-0760 for your free consultation.