Harassment can come in various forms. If you believe you are a victim of workplace harassment, we are here to help. Please continue reading and reach out to a seasoned Los Angeles County employment lawyer from RD Law Group to learn more about workplace harassment and how our legal team can fight for the justice you deserve. Here are some of the questions you may have:
What constitutes a workplace harassment claim, from a legal perspective?
Everyone has, at some point, faced a disagreement or encountered a particularly challenging colleague at work. However, not all unfavorable interactions meet the legal threshold of harassment. In California, workplace harassment becomes unlawful when it’s based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), national origin, age (40 and older), disability, or genetic information.
The distinction is key: A supervisor’s rigorous critique might feel unpleasant but is not necessarily harassment unless it’s grounded in one of these protected categories.
An isolated incident, unless extremely serious, might not be classified as harassment. The behavior must either be pervasive, creating a hostile or offensive work environment, or culminate in a tangible employment action, like termination or demotion. Thus, a single off-color joke might not qualify as harassment, but a pattern of such behavior could.
What is quid pro quo harassment?
One of the more explicit forms of harassment recognized in California is “quid pro quo” sexual harassment. This occurs when job decisions—like promotions, raises, or continued employment—are contingent on the acceptance of unwanted sexual advances. Even a single instance can be legally actionable.
What should I do if I’ve been harassed on the job?
It’s crucial for employers to understand their role. If harassment is perpetrated by a supervisor and results in tangible employment action, the employer is directly liable. For other forms of harassment, if the employer knew or should have known about the misconduct and failed to take prompt corrective action, they may be held accountable. To hold an employer accountable for harassment in the workplace, you should take several steps.
First, you should document the incidents of harassment. This can include reporting them to your company’s HR department and keeping any evidence you may have of the harassment, such as emails, text messages, or pictures. If the harassment persists after you report it, you should contact a seasoned team of Los Angeles employment lawyers who can assess the circumstances of your case, and, from there, pursue the justice you deserve.
RD Law Group is a staunch legal advocate for all victims of harassment, discrimination, and mistreatment in the workplace, and we stand ready to fight for you, every step of the way. Contact us today so we can get started working on your case.
