Know Your Rights: Navigating Workplace Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Claims

Know Your Rights: Navigating Workplace Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Claims

Workplace discrimination and sexual harassment are incredibly sensitive subjects. Unfortunately, many people have been exposed to some form of workplace discrimination or sexual harassment at some point in their careers. Sadly, many don’t understand their rights in the face of these unlawful acts, and as a result, they never get the resolution they deserve. 

Know Your Rights: Navigating Workplace Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Claims

For this reason, it’s essential to know your rights and how to navigate these types of situations if they occur. Depending on the case, having workplace discrimination or sexual harassment lawyer, can save you a great deal of stress and best increase your chance of winning a case. But how do you know if you have a case? Here are a few things to look for.

What Constitutes Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment is not always blatant and easy to spot; it can sometimes be subtle and difficult to identify. Sexual harassment in the workplace is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. It can occur between people of the same or opposite sex.

Some examples of behavior that may constitute workplace harassment include:

  • Unwanted touching or hugging
  • Kissing or fondling
  • Making sexually suggestive comments or jokes
  • Sending sexually explicit emails or text messages
  • Displaying sexually explicit images

Workplace Discrimination: What is it?

Workplace discrimination occurs when an employee is treated unfairly because of their:

  • Race
  • Religion
  • National Origin
  • Disability
  • Age
  • Any other identifier like genetic information, pregnancy status, gender identity or expression, or military status.

Workplace discrimination is a form of workplace harassment, and victims should never feel uncomfortable reporting the behavior. If you feel you’ve experienced any of the above situations or felt that you’ve been treated wrongly, it may be a good idea to contact either a workplace discrimination lawyer or a sexual harassment lawyer to help you get the restitution you deserve.

Dangers of Electronic Sexual Harassment and Discrimination

With the rise of social media and electronic communication, workplace discrimination and sexual harassment have taken on new forms. Employees may be harassed through email, text messaging, social media posts, or other online communications. They may also be subjected to offensive or unwelcome comments, jokes, or behavior based on their protected characteristics in online forums or chat rooms.

Employees who are victims of electronic workplace harassment or discrimination should keep copies of all offensive communications as well as any records indicating that they reported the behavior and what happened as a result. These records can be used as evidence if the employee decides to hire a workplace discrimination or sexual harassment lawyer to take legal action against the individual and/or the employer.

Steps to Take

If you believe that you’ve been the victim of workplace discrimination or sexual harassment, there are a few steps that you can take:

  • Report the behavior to your supervisor or HR department.
  • Keep records of the incidents, including dates, times, locations, and any witnesses.
  • Gather evidence to support your claims, such as emails, text messages, social media posts, or other communications.
  • File a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or your state’s fair employment practices agency.
  • Seek out counsel from a workplace discrimination lawyer, or a sexual harassment lawyer, who can help navigate through your claim.

Know Your Rights

Understanding that workplace discrimination and harassment are illegal under federal and state law is important. If you’ve been the victim of either type of misconduct, you may be entitled to take legal action against your employer. Experienced workplace discrimination or sexual harassment attorney can review your case and help you understand your rights and options under the law.

How Napoli Shkolnik Attorneys at Law Can Help

If you have any questions or feel unsettled about any instances of potential discrimination or harassment at work, it’s important to know your rights and how to properly navigate the situation. The lawyers at Napoli Shkolnik are experienced in handling workplace discrimination and sexual harassment cases. We will fight to get you the resolution that you deserve. Contact us today to learn how we can help.