San Bernardino Sexual Harassment Lawyer

Sexual harassment is an extremely serious violation of an individual’s personal rights. It can take place in many different forms, such as unwelcome advances and making inappropriate comments at work. When this happens, victims sometimes feel like they have no power. They keep to themselves and endure the pain out of fear that no one will believe what is happening. Don’t allow this to fester any longer. A San Bernardino sexual harassment lawyer can help.

Hire a Sexual Harassment Lawyer in San Bernardino Today

At the Law Offices of Reisner & King LLP, we are committed to helping victims of workplace and sexual harassment reclaim their dignity. We have decades of experience and a strong record of success in helping those across California secure the justice they deserve. If you need to hire a sexual harassment lawyer who will take your case as seriously as you are, give us a call today and let’s get started working together.

Understanding San Bernardino Sexual Harassment Laws

San Bernardino’s sexual harassment laws are based on California state regulations and federal protections. Both of these prohibit unwelcome sexual conduct at work. This includes any type of behavior that creates a hostile or intimidating work environment. Whether or not someone intended to inflict this pain does not necessarily factor into the definition of sexual harassment.

Some key legal protections to be aware of include the following:

• The right to work free from quid pro quo harassment, which is where certain job benefits are conditional upon sexual favors
• Protection from a hostile work environment, such as being forced to hear repeated offensive jokes, endure lewd behavior, or be the target of suggestive comments
• All employers with five or more employees must provide sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training to all of their workers.

Any employer who fails to uphold these key protections could be held legally responsible. If you believe your rights have been violated in any one of these areas, do not hesitate to reach out to a qualified sexual harassment attorney to help take matters to the next step.

What Does Sexual Harassment Look Like?

Sexual harassment can look very different in each case. Some sexual harassment cases feature obvious signs of misconduct, while others might require a deeper investigation to prove it really happened. Being able to recognize the obvious and subtle signs of sexual harassment is critical to reducing the prevalence of these instances across California.

Some common examples include:

• Repeated unwanted sexual advances or requests for dates
• Inappropriate touching or physical contact
• Offensive jokes, comments, or images being shared amongst colleagues
• Threats or retaliation for refusing to engage in a sexual advance request
• Favoritism towards certain employees who submit to the unlawful conduct

In 2020, California saw 98 complaints of quid pro quo harassment and 613 of a hostile work environment. This shows how widespread the issue remains for those who work and live in the Golden State.

What Are Employers Required to Do to Prevent Sexual Harassment at Work?

Employers are legally obligated to take a number of different steps to help prevent their employees from dealing with this type of misconduct.

These steps include the following:

• Providing regular harassment prevention training
• Investigating all complaints thoroughly as soon as they are received
• Ensuring there is no retaliation against the employee who reported the misconduct
• Taking disciplinary action when misconduct is proven to be true

The California Civil Rights Department has significantly ramped up its efforts to help employers combat this behavior. One tactic was to provide online training to over 279,000 employees statewide in 2022. That included more than 43,000 supervisors. While these efforts are extremely helpful, not every employer will comply. Be sure to alert someone if you believe your employer is not following proper sexual harassment protocols.

FAQs

Q: Is It Worth Suing for Harassment?

A: Yes, pursuing legal action for harassment can definitely be worth it. This is especially true if you can link the misconduct you endured to your mental health, career performance, or financial stability. Pursuing a lawsuit not only gives you a chance to be compensated for these types of damages, but it also helps to hold the harasser accountable. This can be critical to ensure you or no one else is forced to deal with the same scenario later on.

Q: What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need for Someone Who Is Harassing Me?

A: You need to find an employment lawyer who has direct experience managing sexual harassment cases. When you are meeting with a prospective attorney, ask if they have worked on cases that involve workplace-related misconduct like harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. The more diverse their background is in this space, the more knowledge and experience they have to draw upon to help you achieve the outcome you’re hoping for.

Q: What Proof Do You Need to Sue for Harassment in San Bernardino, CA?

A: In San Bernardino, CA, if you want to build a strong case, you need a strong set of evidence that supports your claim of what happened. This can include emails, text messages, and written reports to HR. You can also bring in any colleagues who can attest to what they saw. The more consistent and detailed your records are, the greater the chance you have of showing patterns of misconduct and proving that your claims are true.

Q: How Hard Is It to Win a Harassment Case?

A: While it can be challenging to win a harassment case depending on the circumstances, it is far from impossible. Your odds of winning are significantly increased when you enlist the help of legal representation and have a solid set of evidence to show. This level of difficulty can often be assessed by how well the harassment is documented and whether the employer took steps to address it or not.

Contact the Law Offices of Reisner & King LLP Today

If you believe you have been sexually harassed at work and want to talk more to a professional who can assess whether you have grounds for a legal case, contact our firm today. With decades of experience in this space, we know what makes a strong case. We are standing by, ready to help you make your case as strong as it can possibly be.