Los Angeles Workplace Harassment Attorneys

The Los Angeles employee lawyers at Mathew & George are experienced in all forms of workplace harassment. If you have been harassed at work in the Los Angeles area, reach out to our team for a free consultation. Our harassment team will review your situation and let you know if an EEOC claim is a good idea. We can help you navigate the claims process and pursue a lawsuit for your workplace harassment case.

Filing a Harassment Claim in Los Angeles

Plaintiffs in workplace harassment cases do not have to prove any economic injury occurred to win their cases. In some harassment cases, an employee is compelled to quit or was otherwise forced to resign. A workplace harassment claim may help that employee secure reinstatement and back pay for time lost.

If you believe you are the victim of harassment at work, do not hesitate to explore your organization’s internal options for resolution. Many companies do not want harassment to take place, and they want to safeguard against potentially ugly lawsuits. Explore your company’s internal processes for resolving harassment. You may be able to have the situation handled quickly to your satisfaction. It is in your company’s best interest to quell harassment in the workplace.

However, if this is impossible, reach out to a Los Angeles workplace harassment attorney to help you file a lawsuit. The EEOC investigates complaints of harassment. If such an investigation determines that harassment did take place, the EEOC will:

• file a lawsuit on your behalf
• issue a “right to sue” letter to your Los Angeles workplace harassment lawyer.

Frequently Asked Harassment Questions

What constitutes as harassment in California?
What are my employer’s obligations if I’m harassed at work?

Understanding Workplace Harassment in California

Harassment is any unwelcome conduct directed at another individual. If the harassment is based on race, skin color, sex, sexual orientation, age, ADA status, or another factor of a person’s identity, it is a common form of workplace discrimination. Harassment also includes any actions that create a hostile, abusive, or otherwise distressing working environment.

Harassment can include:

• Offensive remarks, such as jokes, epithets, or slurs
• Physical assaults
• Psychological harassment
• Threats to an employee’s person or job security
• Intimidation
• Ridicule due to the employee’s personal identity
• Insults and mockery
• Posting offensive images or notes in the workplace
• Interfering with an employee’s work due to his or her personal identity
• Threats of workplace violence
• Sexual harassment

This is not an exhaustive list—the ways in which harassment can take place vary widely as well. When most people think of workplace harassment, they often imagine an employer mistreating an employee. However, harassment can take place between colleagues of similar standing. This even includes non-employees who interact with the employee on a regular basis. An example of this is a parcel delivery person who delivers goods on a regular basis to the employee’s workplace. Additionally, anyone who feels affected by harassment may file a claim.

Your Employer’s Liability and Obligations

The laws of the state of California strictly prohibit harassment of any employees. If harassment occurs in any form in the workplace, an employer faces strict liability for that harassment. In other words, an employer will be liable for any harassment that occurs in a workplace regardless of proof of fault. Even if management did not know that harassment occurred, they could still be responsible for any damages that result.

In some cases, however, liability cannot be absolute. For example, a company may avoid liability for a harassment claim if a non-management employee harassed another, but management had harassment initiatives in place. However, if management knew about this harassment and failed to act, the company could still be liable for damages.

Employers face legal requirements to take a preventive approach to harassment in the workplace. Steps they must take include:

• Posting notices required by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing
• Distributing information to employees about harassment prevention, including information about applicable laws and regulations and possible legal remedies.

Contact Our Los Angeles Workplace Harassment Lawyers

Despite these initiatives, harassment continues to plague workplaces throughout Southern California. If you were recently the victim of workplace harassment, talk to the Los Angeles workplace harassment attorneys at Mathew & George. We help victims of harassment understand their rights and responsibilities under California law, and hold employers accountable for their actions. If you’re suffering at work, don’t endure it in silence. For more information or to schedule a free initial consultation with our firm, contact us.