Last month, an Irvine, California company was asked to settle more than $400,000 to eight women employees on charges for workplace sexual harassment. These women made formal complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2008. Two male supervisors coerced the women to go on dates and have sex with them in exchange for promotions and other work-related perks.  Those who did not give in to the advances of the male supervisors suffered demotion and were asked to clean the comfort room as retaliation.

This is just an example of the prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace and why there is a need to know what it is all about and when to go and seek the help and advice of a sexual harassment lawyer Orange County area.

Acts That Comprise Sexual Harassment

One of the forms of sexual discrimination is sexual harassment.  Sexual harassment is legally defined as “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.”  There are some points to be aware of to make the act come into the sexual harassment legal definition.

People behave in different manners in the workplace. For the act to be considered “unwelcome”, this should be communicated as “not acceptable” to the person doing the harassment. The communication can be made verbally, in writing or through actions. The harasser should be made aware that what he/she is doing should be stopped.

• There are verbal or written comments about personal physical attributes of the person or throwing sexual jokes in front of the person.
• The person is pressured to go on a date or sexual innuendos are made.
• Spreading talks about a person’s life or preference or even threatening a person if the sexual favours are not allowed.
• Touching a person inappropriately or blocking/assaulting a person in the workplace.
• Derogatory gestures or facial expressions while look at the person that is sexual in nature.

A single incident may not be considered sexual harassment.  The act must be pervasive and severe.  However, in cases of rape or attempted rape then this falls under sexual harassment.   The sexual harassment lawyer Orange county based asks the following question to help ascertain if there is sexual harassment:

When the above conditions are met then the complaint can be filed for workplace sexual harassment.

Laws against Sexual Harassment

Most companies now have policies on conduct and processes to address sexual harassment issues. There are laws that sexual harassment lawyer Orange county area are well-versed in. To mention some of them:

• There is a federal law against sexual harassment in the workplace. This is contained in Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights as amended. The law states that employers are responsible for stopping sexual harassment that occurs in the workplace.
• In California, there is an existing law called California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) that rules that sexual harassment on the job is prohibited.

There are other laws that an experienced sexual harassment lawyer Orange county based are updated with and would be able to apply them to the case that will be filed.

The Right Time to go to a Lawyer

Companies who have a sexual harassment board or hearing process will be able to give penalties and other actions against the harasser. But there are cases that complaints are not given the attention by the management. When this happens, it is high time to seek the help of a sexual harassment lawyer Orange county based when work or live in the area.

When you are a victim of sexual harassment the having someone who knows your rights would be the best move in seeking justice for the wrong made to you.  There is also a sexual harassment lawyer Irvine area that can address the issue if you need one.