SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Sexual Harassment Laws

Federal and North Carolina laws protect employees from sexual harassment and improper physical contact in the workplace. Despite these strong and well-established legal protections, which prohibit unwelcome sexual advances or demands, a sexually hostile work environment, and battery, sexual harassment continues to be a widespread problem.

Sexual harassment in the workplace can take many different forms.  One form of sexual harassment involves requests for sexual favors by a boss or employer that results in a tangible employment action, such as a demotion or termination.  This is the “classic” scenario of a male supervisor demanding sexual favors from a female subordinate in exchange for keeping her job or securing a promotion, and then demoting or firing her for refusing those sexual advances.

Sexual harassment can also be shown by the existence of a hostile work environment. Sexually explicit jokes, name-calling, harassing language, inappropriate touching, and other forms of mistreatment towards an employee because of his or her sex or gender can be illegal.  If you experience severe or pervasive sexual harassment, you may have an actionable claim.

If your employer is put on notice that you are the victim of unwelcome sexual advances or inappropriate sexual behavior at work, they are required to investigate and take action to protect you.

Protecting Employee Rights

Experienced legal counsel can be critical in helping employees understand not only their legal rights to work in harassment-free work environments, but also their legal responsibilities to report sexual harassment.  The attorneys at GMFM have litigated many sexual harassment cases and can help you stop the sexual harassment.

The EEOC has published helpful information about sexual harassment.

If you are a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, let the experienced and compassionate attorneys at GMFM fight to protect your rights.  Contact us for an evaluation of your case.