Newport Beach Workplace Harassment Lawyer

When you spend the majority of your time at work, it can be more than exhausting to experience harassment each day. Whether you face constant degradation from a supervisor or your coworker makes comments about your sexual orientation, it’s imperative that you take action to hold them accountable. A Newport Beach workplace harassment lawyer from California Employment Counsel, APC, can help you file a claim and pursue justice today.

Legally speaking, workplace harassment refers to harmful and unlawful conduct that is based on a protected characteristic. This behavior is often offensive in nature, unwelcome, and can be severe enough to impact the victim’s work performance and/or environment, along with their mental health. While some may consider any kind of uncomfortable treatment harassment, it only qualifies if it fulfills the aforementioned characteristics.

​​California’s workplace harassment laws are among the most protective in the country. Harassment is illegal in all California workplaces under the Fair Housing and Employment Act (FEHA), even if the employer has only one employee. Harassment may be committed by supervisors, coworkers, or third parties like customers or vendors. The victim is not required to show that they suffered economic loss.

State and federal laws allow employees in Newport Beach to take legal action and pursue compensation when they’ve been harassed at work. To file a claim, you must prove certain details such as:

1. Harassment Was Based on a Protected Characteristic. First, the harassment must be based on a protected characteristic. It is illegal to treat someone unfairly based on certain characteristics, including:
   • Race
   • Religion
   • Age
   • Pregnancy status
   • Disability
   • Gender
   • Sexual orientation
   • Veteran status
   • Political affiliation
2. The Behavior Was Harmful or Offensive. Next, it must be proven that the harassment was offensive in nature. This can come in different forms, such as racist jokes, slurs, or name-calling. It can even escalate to threats or even physical altercations. An example of a threat would be if a boss constantly asks an employee out to dinner, but she refuses, so he threatens her with termination if she doesn’t comply.
3. The Behavior Was Unwelcome. Third, you must prove that the actions you endured were unwelcome. In many cases, this is not hard to prove. It’s important to note that unwelcome does not mean nonconsensual. Some employees comply due to fear of being ostracized or reprimanded. However, generally speaking, harassing behavior is typically not welcome by the receiver.
4. The Behavior Was Severe. Lastly, you must prove that the conduct was severe or pervasive. There is no set number of times that an incident has to occur in Newport Beach for it to be considered harassment. For instance, one bad joke may not be considered harassment, but one physical assault may be.

To ensure you can prove each aspect of workplace harassment, it is crucial that you hire a workplace harassment lawyer with knowledge of local and federal laws here in Newport Beach.

Workplace harassment can take on many forms in California. Because workplace harassment is a broad term that covers many offensive behaviors, it’s important to know what harassment looks like so you can identify when it happens to you or a coworker. Some common types of workplace harassment seen in Newport Beach include:

• Verbal Harassment. This can include crude jokes, comments, slurs, or name-calling based on a protected characteristic. Examples include making racist comments against all foreign employees or consistently commenting on a female employee’s body.
• Physical Harassment. This includes unwelcome touching, such as groping, hugging, or kissing. This can also include violent forms of touching, such as slapping, hitting, or punching an employee, even if done for laughs.
• Visual Harassment. This form of harassment may not be directed at one person, but if it contributes to a hostile work environment and offends coworkers, it can be considered harassment. An example would be displaying nude photos in the office.
• Sexual Harassment. This covers harassment that is sexual in nature, such as requesting sexual favors or making sexual advances to another person.
• Retaliation Harassment. This includes specifically targeting employees who have reported unfair, illegal, or unethical practices in the workplace.

Employers who instigate or allow workplace harassment in Newport Beach can face severe consequences for their behavior or lack of intervention. Some common workplace harassment penalties in California include:

• Financial compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and any other financial losses the employee incurred due to the harassment
• Punitive damages that punish the wrongdoer when their behavior was particularly egregious
• Court-ordered demands, including policy changes or new forms of training for all employees
• Reinstatement, if possible, to the employee’s prior position or similar

Recent data from the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) shows that efforts to prevent and eliminate workplace harassment have had significant results. The EEOC investigated hundreds of federal workplace harassment accusations, issued official findings of discrimination in dozens of cases, and provided significant relief to victims.

In one year, the agency handled 35 harassment complaints on various protected bases, resulting in roughly $9.8 million in monetary relief for 184 individuals, including three large-scale systemic cases. These statistics demonstrate both the frequency of workplace harassment and the continuous efforts to combat it through legal action and public education.

While these efforts are showing strong results, workplace harassment is still common across California and the rest of the country. If you are experiencing harassment in your Newport Beach workplace, do not wait to seek justice with help from California Employment Counsel, APC.

At California Employment Counsel, APC, we know how devastating workplace harassment can be. It does not just affect your career, but it also affects your sense of security and dignity. Based in Orange County, we proudly represent employees in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and surrounding communities, standing up to employers who violate state and federal laws.

A Newport Beach workplace harassment attorney from our team can provide you with the compassionate support you need while aggressively fighting on your behalf. We can provide you with the legal guidance and understanding you need so you’re aware of your options. No matter how complex your case, we are committed to protecting your rights and helping you secure justice.

If you were harassed in your Newport Beach workplace, hire a workplace harassment lawyer from our firm to fight for your rights and hold your employer accountable. Contact California Employment Counsel, APC, for more information.