Have You Been a Victim of Sexual Harassment?
Are you being subjected to harassment at work because of your gender? Have you been wrongfully fired or suffered other adverse employment actions like reprimands or demotions because you have objected to or complained about such conduct?
Sexual harassment laws have been enacted to protect you! Sexual harassment in employment violates the provisions of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, specifically Government Code Sections 12940(a), (j), and (k). Federal Law also prohibits against sexual harassment as well.
Sexual Harassment Definition
The Fair Employment and Housing Act defines harassment because of sex as including sexual harassment, gender harassment and harassment based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. The Fair Employment and Housing Commission regulations define sexual harassment as unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment includes many forms of offensive behavior and includes harassment of a person who is the same sex as the harasser. Under California law, illegal sexual harassment or gender harassment may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Unwanted sexual advances.
- Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors.
- Making or threatening reprisals after a negative response to sexual advances.
- Visual conduct, e.g. leering, making sexual gestures, displaying of sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons, or posters.
- Verbal conduct, e.g. making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs or jokes.
- Verbal sexual advances or propositions.
- Verbal abuse of a sexual nature or graphic, verbal commentaries about an individual’s body.
- Sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, suggestive or obscene letters, notes or invitations.
- Physical conduct, such as touching, assault, impeding or blocking movements.
- Physical Conduct, such as Touching, Assault, Impeding or Blocking Movements.
Also the Fair Employment and Housing Act has enacted specific laws that will protect you if you have been retaliated against because you have complained about or objected to unlawful harassment.