In the workplace, employees deserve to work in a safe environment. Unfortunately, this isn’t the reality for many California residents. If you suspect you’ve been a victim of workplace harassment, contact a Costa Mesa employee harassment lawyer to help you understand what legal options are available to you.
You should feel safe and protected while at your place of work. If you have been a victim of harassment in the workplace, a Costa Mesa harassment lawyer can help. It can be intimidating to speak up for yourself. It is vital to have representation on your side that knows your rights. At California Employment Counsel, APC, we proudly focus on workplace harassment and discrimination cases, defending and advocating for the employee throughout the case.
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.
At California Employment Counsel, APC, our team understands how destabilizing workplace incidents can be for victims. You are likely to spend most of your time at work and dedicate yourself to your job to meet your bills. When your livelihood is threatened, the effects can spread into every facet of your life.
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Our attorneys have a niche focus on protecting the legal rights of California workers. We’ve fought to secure millions of dollars in settlements for our clients. When you’re facing such a stressful time in your life, you need a strong legal advocate to validate your experiences and fight for what’s right.
Harassment in the workplace can happen to anyone. In California, workplace harassment can come in many forms. A Costa Mesa harassment attorney can help if you’ve faced harassment at your place of work due to:
In a recent mental health study in the UK, 37% of employees ages 18-29 were formally diagnosed with a mental health condition that could affect their performance at work. In the same study, 72% of LGBTQ+ employees have experienced a mental health condition directly linked to their workplace.
This highlights the immense but silent pressures and afflictions employees might be facing at the workplace, making upholding employee rights even more vital in the face of workplace harassment.
Not just contained to playgrounds and children, bullying is also a form of workplace harassment. Bullying can come in many forms, a common form being verbal. It is common for bullying in the workplace to come from those in positions of power, and often, such behavior, while unacceptable and inappropriate, is considered part of the business culture.
Any language or behavior in the workplace that makes you feel threatened, humiliated, insulted, discriminated against, or uncomfortable could qualify as bullying and or harassment in the workplace.
Harassment is not always a physical incident, nor is it always direct. Unwanted or inappropriate touching, language, suggestions, pictures, or jokes might be considered harassment. Workplace harassment falls under two main categories: hostile work environments and quid pro quo sexual harassment.
Harassment is unlike other legal matters in the workplace in that sometimes there is no physical damage. In a workplace harassment case, our Costa Mesa harassment attorneys will evaluate all damages owed to you, including back pay for any work missed, emotional distress, and punitive damages to deter similar future transgressions. While we cannot undo what you endured, we can help you get what you are due.
In California, workers and prospective applicants are protected under a number of labor laws throughout the application, hiring, and employment process. It is important to note that any complaints of workplace harassment must be filed within one year of the incident.
You can easily file your claim or retrieve the proper forms. There are a number of justice centers in the Orange County region. In Costa Mesa, the nearest Superior Court of California is located at Costa Mesa Justice Complex, 3390 Harbor Blvd.
The Fair Employment and Housing Act, or FEHA, is a California law that protects people from discrimination and harassment at work. Under this law, employers can’t treat someone unfairly because of their:
The top employers in Orange County include Fairview Developmental Center, Menzies Aviation, and Broadcom Corporation. Given the prevalence of large companies, civil rights violations often occur. It can be difficult to detect workplace harassment. Perpetrators frequently use sly, subtle tactics to oppress victims, making them feel like they’re overreacting. Harassment is illegal, as it makes a work environment scary, hostile, or abusive.
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.
However, minor or one-time rude comments usually aren’t illegal unless they’re extremely serious. To break the law, the conduct must create a workplace that a reasonable person would see as intimidating or offensive. Harassing behavior can include:
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:
When an employee experiences workplace harassment, they have the right to report it to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. When a person reports harassment, they’re protected by law and can’t face retaliation for exercising their legal rights. It’s important to hire an employee harassment lawyer to help you navigate the next steps during this time.
Any sexual favors, overt or implied, in exchange for benefits related to the job is known as quid pro quo (this for that) sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment in the workplace is serious. Like any form of workplace harassment, it can interfere with an employee’s ability to complete their job in the day-to-day as well as in the long term. Also, like the other forms of workplace harassment, sexual harassment is not limited to one gender or group of people. Sexual harassment can happen to men, women, and people of the same sex. While physical sexual assault might be the more commonly villainized form of workplace harassment, sexual harassment can also look like:
While handling your case, we will also ensure your place of employment takes the necessary and correct steps in internally investigating and responding to the claims. This can sometimes bring to light employer retaliation. Employer retaliation is when the employer seemingly punishes the victim instead of following lawful protocol. Retaliation can look like:
It is important to document transgressions in the workplace so that our defense attorneys can build a solid case on your behalf.
Employer retaliation occurs when a boss or manager at work punishes an employee for doing something the law protects, such as reporting harassment.
California has many workplace laws that protect employees from retaliation. These laws are enforced by the Labor Commissioner, and they apply to workers and job applicants across the state. Recognizing retaliation can be as difficult as recognizing the initial harassment. It can include:
If an employee faces retaliation, they can file a complaint with the Labor Commissioner. In most cases, a retaliation complaint must be filed within one year of the date the employer took the negative action.
When someone believes they have experienced workplace harassment, they can file a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. After a complaint is submitted, the Civil Rights Department reviews the situation and decides whether an investigation is warranted. If the department accepts the case, it conducts its own investigation by:
To begin the process, a person must submit an intake form. In 2023, the Civil Rights Department received 29,877 intake forms regarding civil rights violations. In employment cases, the intake form must be submitted within three years of the last harmful act.
If you don’t want to go through the Civil Rights Department, you can request a “right-to-sue” notice from the Civil Rights Department before opening a legal case against your employer. There were 14,982 “right-to-sue” requests in 2023. The Civil Rights Department launched 5,765 investigations that year.
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When filing your complaint with the Civil Rights Department or opening a legal case in court, you’ll need to compile as much evidence as possible to support your harassment claim. Evidence can include:
To make your evidence easier to understand, organize it in the order in which the events occurred. Your attorney can help you prepare your evidence so it can be used effectively during negotiations or in court. Be sure to avoid:
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.
Reach out to California Employment Counsel, APC, today to schedule your confidential consultation. We’re passionate about ensuring employees in Costa Mesa, California feel safe at work. When you don’t feel safe, you need a lawyer you can rely on. Let us be the ones to fight for your rights.
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.
555 Anton Blvd,
Suite 150
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Call: 714-361-0864
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714-462-8376
555 Anton Blvd., Suite 150,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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