Deciphering Sexual Harassment Laws in California
The problem of sexual harassment between people in the workplace has been a focus of society today, which has prompted many women to come out and describe their experiences. Any form of varied harassment in a state law context in California has some nuances that apply specifically to sexual harassment laws. Under California law, sexual harassment is defined as unwanted and sexually charged verbal and/or physical conduct exhibited by an employer or fellow employee. This can take the form of “quid pro quo” harassment, which essentially refers to that the work promotions or benefits are actually dependent on providing some sexual favors. It can also take the form of creating a hostile environment by verbally commenting and physically acting in a way that would make other workers uncomfortable, even if they might not be singled out by the behavior.
As Douglas Han, Partner of Justice Law Corporation, indicates, workplace harassment is conduct toward a protected class that results in a working environment being perceived as hostile, intimidating, offensive, oppressive, or abusive. In such circumstances, a company knows about this type of conduct but does not rectify the action, resulting in harm to employees.
Within the workplace, sexual harassment is addressed by the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). As Douglas Han of the Justice Law Corporation says, “FEHA protects all California workers against discrimination, extending its coverage to external or internal job applicants.” In addition to FEHA covering interactions between people and their employers or colleagues, it is also relevant to working relationships between medical professionals such as doctors and therapists and their patients. Such recognition is derived from the premise that sexual harassment in the context of medical care can cause long-lasting emotional harm and serious setbacks to the treatment of patients involved.
If you have become a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, contacting representation through a reputable law firm would be necessary for litigation for the purpose of compensation. Justice Law Corporation attorney Douglas Han, who has dealt with enumerable harassment and discrimination cases, says, “If you’re being mistreated by your employer due to race, sex, age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, or national origin and need legal representation, we may be able to help.” Apart from being an employee and most importantly, a resident of California, you do not have to go through abusive treatment within your workstation. Secure the justice you deserve by reaching out to a reputable attorney without hesitation.