Costa Mesa Harassment at Work Lawyer

Every worker is entitled to be treated fairly and with respect in the workplace. Anything less is unacceptable and, in many cases, unlawful. If you are suffering any kind of harassment in the workplace, it is vital that you contact a Costa Mesa harassment at work lawyer to learn how employment laws apply to your specific case and what your legal options are.

The skilled and compassionate legal team at California Employment Counsel, APC, understands your position. It can be difficult to pursue legal action against your employer, even for a harassment at work claim. Employees often fear losing their jobs or other forms of retaliation. A knowledgeable Costa Mesa harassment at work attorney can use their extensive experience handling harassment at work cases like yours to help you now.

When you are going up against your employer for a harassment case, the most important choice you can make is to hire a harassment at work lawyer to represent your interests. You want to have peace of mind that your case is in the hands of someone who knows how to help you and can provide you with the right kind of legal resources. At California Employment Counsel, APC, we have spent many years ensuring California employees have access to quality legal representation.

Our trusted team of attorneys focuses primarily on discrimination and harassment cases. We build every case according to the client’s needs. Some of our lawyers have been declared Super Lawyers by Law & Politics and Los Angeles magazines, honors which reflect excellence in legal service and recognition by our clients and peers.

Workplace harassment is unfortunately not rare in California. According to a 2024 report by the California Civil Rights Department, 1,775 employees admitted to reporting or resisting harassment or discrimination at work. Nationwide, over 5,500 sexual harassment charges were made by the EEOC in 2021.

In Costa Mesa, harassment at work claims are generally handled at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex at 3390 Harbor Blvd. In some cases, hearings may also take place at the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) or other government agencies. Your attorney can explain the process for your specific case and make sure you are aware of any hearings or other proceedings. In some situations, they may be able to represent you without your needing to attend.

There are many forms of workplace harassment. While some are obvious, others may be so subtle that you don’t immediately realize you are being harassed. If you are harassed, it’s vital that you contact a workplace harassment lawyer as soon as you can. A Costa Mesa harassment at work lawyer can help you hold the right people accountable by filing a case the right way. Here are some of the more common types of workplace harassment:

• Sexual harassment. Unfortunately, sexual harassment remains common throughout the country. It can take the form of unwanted sexual advances, jokes, comments, touching, and requests for sexual favors in the form of quid pro quo harassment. The most effective way to address this behavior is to expose it, report it, and pursue damages against the people who enabled it.
• Discrimination harassment. In California, it is illegal to discriminate against anyone because of their protected class, such as race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, skin color, religion, disability, national origin, or pregnancy. Favoring one group over another for promotions, raises, or hiring is a common example of discrimination.
• Personal harassment. Personal harassment is more targeted and covers unwelcome conduct that contributes to creating a hostile work environment, which means that the conditions at work make it difficult for someone to do their job. It can involve insults, disrespectful comments, shaming, intimidation, and intentional embarrassment.
• Physical harassment. There are many different degrees of physical harassment, but they all essentially amount to unwanted touching. If it gets particularly serious or threatening, it could even be considered assault. Physical harassment can include destruction of personal property and threats of physical violence alongside actual physical touching.
• Psychological harassment. This is arguably the most difficult form of harassment to prove, as it affects victims mentally. It largely consists of repeated hostile words, painful behaviors, hurtful comments, gaslighting, belittling, and exclusion. It may also consist of efforts to isolate the victim and cut them off from their support system.
• Power harassment. This type of harassment occurs between a superior and their subordinate. Power harassment can often include other forms of harassment. It can happen when a superior promises career advancement for sexual favors, imposes impossible deadlines and expectations, or even makes inappropriate comments about a subordinate’s race, religion, or age.
• Retaliation. One of the most common forms of workplace harassment is retaliation. If you were to report your employer’s illegal activities to the proper authorities, your employer cannot legally retaliate against you in any way. That doesn’t stop some employers, though. Retaliation can take the form of termination, docked pay, demotion, or a hostile work environment.

Being harassed in the workplace can be an incredibly stressful and isolating experience. California has some of the strongest laws in the country to protect workers, and you may have grounds to file a claim. However, you do not have to face this challenging situation alone. The most effective thing you can do for your case is gather plenty of evidence, contact a harassment lawyer, and pursue damages in civil court.

At California Employment Counsel, APC, we can help you make sure that you have the highest possible chance for a favorable outcome in your case. Our dedicated attorneys are committed to protecting our clients’ rights and interests and holding employers accountable when they act in bad faith.

Reach out to our trusted legal team today to set up an initial confidential consultation to discuss your case with a knowledgeable employment attorney and learn how we can help you.