Representing Victims of Discrimination

Sexual Harassment

Unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature represent sexual harassment if the conduct affects an individual's employment, work performance, or produces a hostile, threatening or offensive work setting. Recent studies suggest that approximately 45-80% of women and 10-20% of men have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. It is estimated that 25,000 sexual harassment cases are brought to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) each year. According to the EEOC, the number of sexual harassment complaints filed by men has more than tripled in recent years, with 15% of today’s claims being filed by men against female supervisors.

Hostile-Work Environment consists of uninvited requests for sexual favors, sexual advances and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that affect an employee’s performance. The EEOC looks at the following factors to conclude whether a setting is hostile: whether the conduct was verbal, physical or both; how frequently it is repeated; whether the conduct was hostile or patently offensive; whether the alleged harasser was a co-worker or supervisor; whether others joined in perpetrating the harassment; and whether the harassment was directed at more than one individual.

Quid Pro Quo sexual harassment happens when an employer wants a sexual demand. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature make up quid pro quo sexual harassment when giving into such conduct is made either openly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment, or submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual.

No one should have to endure sexual harassment in the workplace. If you are a victim of sexual harassment, you should try to seek legal representation as soon as possible, even though you may be intimidated. The lawyers at Morelli Ratner, PC are experienced in the field of workplace discrimination and sexual harassment; contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.