Sexual harassment has several legal definitions. In general, it refers to unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive enough to affect working conditions or create a hostile work environment. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

 

• Submission to the conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of employment
   

• An employee’s submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for employment decisions
   

• The conduct unreasonably interferes with work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment
   

Examples of sexual harassment include unwelcome sexual propositions or marriage proposals; unwelcome hugging, kissing, or other offensive physical contact of a sexual nature; unwelcome lewd gestures, remarks, or innuendoes; unwelcome discussions of sexual practices or anatomy; and unwelcome sexually offensive posters, photographs, drawings, cartoons, jokes, stories, nicknames, or comments about appearance.
 

Employers have an obligation to protect employees from unlawful sexual harassment by their own employees, as well as by third parties such as vendors and customers.
 

Sexual harassment may involve both the employer and the individual engaging in the conduct, and employees are protected from retaliation for reporting harassment or raising concerns.
 

For more information about sexual harassment issues, your rights, and whether your situation may qualify for further action, call to schedule a free consultation.
 

Support and resources are available for workers throughout California, including Santa Ana, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange County, and Los Angeles.