Sexual harassment in the workplace is a problem that has been occurring for decades (if not centuries, really), but it has not gotten nearly the attention that it deserves until recently. For so long, it was just swept under the rug and seen as a “women’s” problem.
Obviously, this is not the case. For one thing, sexual harassment is not exclusive to women – men can experience it as well. Additionally, though, it’s downright reductive to brush it off as such. We need to pay much more attention to it, and there are several reasons for that.
Websites like this one, demonstrate just a few of them for you. This will be covered in more detail in the rest of this article, as well as some of the ways that anyone suffering from sexual harassment can get some help.
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What Constitutes Sexual Harassment?
Honestly, it seems that part of the reason that we haven’t been focusing more on this on a societal level is the simple fact that “defining” it is difficult. What some people would constitute as sexual harassment, others might brush aside as a simple “joke.” This makes it tricky to consider it on a legal level sometimes.
With that being said, though, there is a legal definition that we can examine. Simply put, any conduct that is unwanted towards an employee or coworker based on something such as gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, etc., falls under this umbrella. As far was what that conduct might look like, though, it can get…complicated.
Most of us probably think about inappropriate touching as one of the obvious examples, as you can read about more https://www.worklawyers.com/sexual-harassment-definition-california/ Unfortunately, though, that is far from the only instance that constitutes as harassment. Comments related to any of the things that were listed above (or that are overtly sexual in nature) can also count.
Again, though, the tricky thing here is that some people are more “sensitive” than others when it comes to these things. What may appear to be an innocent joke to one might deeply upset another. That’s why prevention education can be so important, but once an incident has already occurred, it can be difficult to parse out exactly what happened.
It’s easy to assume that everyone is just overreacting when they report an incident, but I would urge caution with that. Even if the initial action was intended to be a joke rather than hurtful or harassing, a lot of perpetrators try to hide behind that guise. Take any reports of sexual harassment seriously.
Getting Help
Experiencing harassment or bullying from your coworkers or a supervisor can be really isolating. Often, people who are suffering end up going quiet about it for fear that they won’t be believed, or that the behaviors from their tormentors will just get worse. In a place like Los Angeles, where the statistics show that employees are more likely to experience sexual harassment than in the rest of the country, this is truly a shame.
However, there are options for help out there. Finding a sexual harassment attorney in Los Angeles isn’t as hard as it might seem, especially with the power of the internet on your side. Whether you use the resources that have been linked or not, you should be able to find a lawyer who is willing to give you a consultation.
Recounting specific events can be difficult and even traumatizing, depending on how serious the situation is. Try to find someone who is willing to give you the attention and care that you deserve. Thankfully, most lawyers who specialize in this field are very understanding and empathetic, and are well-equipped to assist you during a difficult time like this.
Moving Forward
Admittedly, a lot of victims are surprised by this, but a large aspect of legal proceedings against a perpetrator or company is the healing process both throughout and afterwards. The best of lawyers out there are not just trying to get you “vengeance” in the immediacy, but also to help you as you heal and even grieve. There are a lot of complicated feelings throughout something like this, and it’s important to remember that.
The statistics, like the ones shown here, https://www.zippia.com/advice/sexual-harassment-workplace-statistics/, just don’t lie. This problem is a widespread one that deserves a lot more attention than its currently getting. That goes for the aftermath, too. Victims often aren’t really sure how to feel once a legal trial is over.
Even when they have won some compensation for the traumatizing experiences that they’ve endured, moving forward isn’t easy. Therapy is probably something to invest in, honestly, no matter the outcome of a trial or court proceeding. Either way, victims are going to need some further assistance.
Reaching out for that can be hard, though, and that is understandable. Even by taking that first step to contact a lawyer, though, you are making huge progress. Take pride in that, really.
Final Thoughts
Navigating the legal system and California law isn’t easy. This is especially true when it comes to stuff relating to sexual harassment in the workplace, as unfortunate as that is. Sure, we can try to read some of the documents on our own, but often it’s hard to make heads or tails of what they’re really trying to say.
Getting help from an attorney is often going to be the way to go, there. If you’re not sure whether or not what you’re experiencing counts as sexual harassment in legal terms, you can get a consultation for free from most law firms. Make sure that you take advantage of that if you’re having any doubts.
Topics like this one are very serious. Approaching them with tact is key. You can trust in your law professionals to do just that if you’re able to find true professionals, whose concern lies exclusively with you as a victim. Hopefully, you are able to find the right fit, and are able to get justice if this is something you’re going through.
