Moreno Valley Sexual Harassment Attorney

No matter where you work in California, you have the right to a safe workplace free of harmful behaviors. When you experience sexual harassment in your Moreno Valley workplace, it’s crucial that you know your rights and find a law firm that can help hold your employer accountable. A Moreno Valley sexual harassment attorney can help you better understand your rights, help you build a claim, and advocate for you through every step of your case.

When it comes to navigating a sexual harassment case, choosing the right lawyer is critical to both your claim and your future. Working with a compassionate, skilled sexual harassment attorney can help you build the strongest claim possible and ensure you take action legally and adequately. At California Employment Counsel, APC, we provide the negotiation skills, knowledge, and resources needed for California employees to fight back.

Riverside County is home to nearly 2.4 million people, making it the 10th largest county in the nation. Surprisingly, the county only makes up for about four% of employment across the state, with many workers commuting out of the area. However, Riverside County still has a successful job market where thousands of residents are employed in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and retail.

Under California law, all employers must have a sexual harassment policy in place if they have five or more employees. This means that even if you work at a small Riverside County retailer, your employer should still have policies in place to protect you. Sexual harassment policies exist not only to protect employees from dangerous behaviors but also to give them an avenue to exercise their rights if they feel they are being treated unfairly or unlawfully.

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) recently received a total of 29,877 complaints in a single year regarding discrimination, harassment, or violence in employment sectors, housing sectors, and business establishments. Any employer in California is required by law to take reasonable steps to prevent harassment in the workplace. Otherwise, they can be held liable even if they themselves were not the perpetrator.

Sexual harassment in Moreno Valley is a form of workplace discrimination that is based on the gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation of a worker. Any employee can be a victim of sexual harassment, and the perpetrator’s motivation does not always have to be sexual desire.

While acts of sexual harassment can involve inappropriate physical contact and unwanted sexual advances, they can just as easily involve derogatory comments, hurtful jokes, and slurs. Generally, sexual harassment in Moreno Valley is categorized as either:

• Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment. This includes acts of sexual harassment that can affect the entire atmosphere at work, both for the direct victim and bystanders. Over time, these behaviors can create an offensive or unsafe work environment, impacting morale and overall productivity in the workplace.
• Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment. This type of harassment literally means “this for that.” It pertains to situations where one party asks another party for sexual favors, typically in return for some work benefits like a promotion or a raise.

Regardless of the type of sexual harassment you experience, your California employer is ultimately responsible for handling these situations and ensuring you’re compensated for any losses. You should work with a skilled Moreno Valley sexual harassment attorney to ensure you take the right legal steps to protect yourself and your career.

Sex discrimination and sexual harassment are two terms that are often used interchangeably. However, there are distinct differences between the two. Sexual harassment in the workplace refers to inappropriate or offensive behaviors aimed at an employee based on their gender, gender expression/identity, sex, or sexual orientation. It’s a specific type of sex discrimination.

Sex discrimination as a whole is a broad term that covers a variety of offenses that involve denying an employee or potential employee civil rights, employment, or job opportunities, as well as other forms of mistreatment based on the victim’s gender.

If you’re experiencing sexual harassment in your Moreno Valley workplace, the first thing you should do is report it to your employer. Most businesses have policies and protocols in place for these situations. You can also file a complaint with the California CRD or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If your employer does not take action or ignores your claim, you should seek legal aid immediately if you have not already.

By filing your sexual harassment claim with a state or federal agency, you broaden the scope of potential damages you can recover, and you put yourself in a better position to file a legal case with the Riverside County Superior Court down the road if you must. Filing with a government agency also ensures your employer and the person causing you harm are held accountable.

Before you can file a case with a California court, you must go through the process of filing with the CRD, and you can only file a complaint with the CRD if you do so within three years of the latest incident of sexual harassment.

Each and every workplace sexual harassment case is unique, which is why it’s beneficial to work with a law firm that you can trust to provide the care and attention your situation deserves. Whether the internal policies at your company have fallen short in protecting you or you simply have questions about filing a claim, a compassionate Moreno Valley sexual harassment attorney from our firm is prepared to help.

At the California Employment Counsel, APC, we have dedicated years to protecting and advocating for the rights of California employees. If you’re ready to discuss your case in more detail, contact our office to set up an appointment with one of our team members today.