Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is strictly prohibited in the workplace under Local, State, and Federal laws. The legal framework is often complex, and the process can be traumatic for victims. Our experienced sexual harassment attorneys work fiercely to protect the rights of victims of sexual harassment. While most people traditionally think of women as being the victims of sexual harassment, laws protect men as well. Washington state and many local employment laws also extend sexual harassment protections to members of the LGBTQ community.
Insights
What constitutes sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment can come in many different forms. Historically sexual harassment has commonly been thought of as unwanted sexual advances. Thankfully laws have evolved to include the full spectrum of sexually harassing conduct. Some examples of sexual harassment claims our attorneys have experience fighting for are:
- Unwanted or unwanted physical touching
- Sexual assault
- Quid pro quo – suggesting employment or advancement in exchange for sexual acts
- Showing employees sexually charged images
- Making sexual advances
- Bullying using gender-related comments
- Offensive comments about sexual orientation or gender identification
I’m being sexually harassed at work, what should I do?
If you believe you are being sexually harassed at the work place you should not hesitate to contact a sexual harassment attorney. With offices in Tacoma and Seattle, we routinely represent clients throughout Washington state. Our sexual harassment attorneys have the resources and determination to defend your rights as an employee. Sexual harassment cases can be complex and difficult to prove. One of the first things that you should do if you think you are experiencing illegal workplace harassment is to contact an attorney to get information about your rights.
Who can be considered a sexual harasser?
It’s a common misconception that only supervisors or managers can be guilty of sexual harassment in the workplace. Fellow employees can also commit sexual harassment. Additionally, you do not have to be an employee to be a victim of sexual harassment. For example, you could be a customer at a restaurant and be sexually harassed by a company’s employee.
Is there a time limit on how long I can pursue a lawsuit?
A statute of limitations is a law that sets the maximum period for filing a lawsuit. The time frame can vary depending on the type of case or claim.
In the state of Washington, you generally have three years from the date you were a victim of sexual harassment to file a claim. However, contacting an experienced employment rights lawyer as soon as possible is the best decision, as evidence may be lost or destroyed, and witnesses may become challenging to find. By contacting one of our employment rights attorneys quickly, we can help preserve evidence and witness testimony that builds a strong case on your behalf.
