Sexual harassment performed by co-workers is perhaps the most common type of harassment committed in work environments, although victims of sexual harassment in the workplace may hesitate to report it out of fear of losing their jobs or even fear of the perpetrators. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, requests to perform sexual favors, unsolicited sexual advances and any verbal or physical act that is sexual in nature, explicit or implied.

While some instances of sexual harassment may be blatantly offensive, other illegal gestures may not be so obvious. Consider an unwelcome marriage proposal at work or an environment where some employees are engaging others in unwelcome, lewd discussions about anatomy and sexual innuendos—these examples are illegal. According to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), even offensive comments about an employee’s sex, male or female, may be grounds for a harassment lawsuit.

In a work setting, sexual harassment can occur on a daily basis or even once. It may even occur if, for example, the refusal of fulfilling a co-worker’s sexual request results in unfair treatment of that employee or unfair termination of that employee’s position. If such inappropriate behavior persists for any extended period of time, victims of sexual harassment may find themselves trapped in a hostile work environment and may have to deal with the serious repercussions of emotional abuse and self-hate, even after the sexual harassment stops.

Moreover, sexual discrimination can be exercised against both men and women. Labor laws in the US protect members of both sexes, regardless of whether the perpetrator and victim are male or female. Don’t be swayed by the stereotype-driven idea that sexual harassment is only an example of discrimination against women. Below is some more advice to remember when trying to avoid sexual harassment in the workplace.

1. Knowing your employee rights can empower you. Protect yourself by reading up on the facts. Labor law in California is aimed at protecting employees from discrimination and harassment, but if you need help sifting through legal jargon, consult with a sexual harassment lawyer in Orange County.
2. Assert yourself as a person who deserves respect. Male or female, an employee in the workplace is meant to be productive and work as part of a team. Dress and act professionally if you want o be taken seriously, and it is less likely that your co-workers will objectify you. Although any sexual harassment lawyer in Orange County will tell you that a perpetrator’s act is never acceptable, even if, for example, a woman wears a low-cut top, it is important that you know what image of yourself you are projecting.
3. Be confident in your own ability to fight back. If a co-worker is bullying you into crude conversations or making inappropriate sexual comments about someone else in the office, he or she is committing a crime. Take your complaints to person in a position of authority who can improve the situation on a professional level. You do not deserve to endure any amount of sexual or emotional abuse.
4. Don’t blow off advances—collect evidence! If a case of sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace gets serious, you’ll want hard evidence that details the situation. Keeping a diary or a written record of what you’ve gone through will undoubtedly help any sexual harassment lawyer in Orange County help fight your case in court.
5. Call in retaliation. The best way to avoid being cornered and subjected to unwelcome advances is to stick around people that you trust. Being with a big group at the company Christmas party as opposed to wandering off alone where a rowdy co-worker can strike will greatly decrease the chances that you’ll be caught in tricky legal matters that may take a toll on your life.