Understanding Forms of Sexual Harassment in San Francisco
Generally speaking, sexual harassment can take two different forms in employment situations:
- Quid pro quo harassment (roughly translated to “this for that”); and
- Hostile work environment harassment.
In situations involving quid pro quo harassment, an employer or supervisor (someone in a managerial or supervisory capacity) either requires sexual favors from an employee in exchange for continued employment or benefits, or makes an offer of benefits or other advantages in exchange for sexual favors. The employee who is the target of quid pro quo harassment must be the person to file the claim.
With hostile work environment harassment, anybody who is in a workplace can perpetrate this kind of sexual harassment — employers or supervisors, co-workers, clients or customers, and other third parties. This kind of harassment may be of a sexual nature, but it need not be. It must be severe enough that a reasonable person would find the perpetrator’s behavior to be intimidating or abusive. Anyone in the workplace who is impacted by hostile work environment sexual harassment may be eligible to file a claim, even if they are not the direct target of the harassment. Because establishing that a hostile work environment is legally actionable requires meeting specific thresholds of severity and pervasiveness, for legal guidance on your situation, you should speak with a Venardi Zurada sexual harassment lawyer.
Protections Against Sexual Harassment in San Francisco Workplaces
What does sexual harassment involve, and what laws protect job applicants and employees from it? Under federal law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, which includes sexual harassment. Under state law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment.
State law provides additional protections designed to prevent sexual harassment in employment, as well. California has a recently passed “Silenced No More” Act that limits the use of confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements to ensure that employees who have faced sexual harassment and sex discrimination are not prevented by such agreements from coming forward and filing claims with an employment law attorney.
Let Our San Francisco Sexual Harassment Lawyers Help You
Nobody who applies for a job or accepts an employment offer should ever have to be concerned about being subject to sexual harassment in the workplace. There are strong laws in place designed to protection job applicants and employees in California from all forms of sexual harassment, and to ensure that job applicants and employees have access to remedies they need. If you have been the target of sexual harassment or experienced any kind of retaliation for failing to submit to sexual advances, or if you have been impacted by a hostile work environment caused by sexual harassment, it is important to take action. The law firm of Venardi Zurada LLP can help. Contact our experienced San Francisco sexual harassment lawyer today for more information about our services. Call us at (833) 893-6763 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
