SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWYER IN MASSACHUSETTS

Sexual harassment in the workplace occurs in all occupations and at all levels. Its victims include both men and women, and the harasser can be the same sex as the victim. The impact of sexual harassment is devastating to victims and to workplace culture and morale. If you are a victim of sexual harassment, you don’t have to stay silent. You can reach out to a harassment lawyer for help with fighting back and standing up for your right to a safe work environment. The person who targeted you can be held responsible for their actions.

Why take the risk to speak out against harassment? Your bravery can do the following:

1. Prevent a predator from harassing or harming someone else
2. Protect yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally from further harassment
3. Stop workplace harassment for good
4. Lead to changes in laws that protect workers from harassment at other companies
5. Change culture to make it unacceptable for harassment to occur

At Swartz Law, we believe that everyone deserves to feel safe and respected in the workplace, which is why we fight tirelessly for victims of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment lawyer, Tara Swartz, has years of experience representing victims of sexual harassment and as a result understands the sensitive nature of these claims.  She is skilled at resolving them swiftly and confidentially.

What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment can take many forms, including unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and repeated demeaning or illicit sexual jokes or comments. Sexual harassment is unlawful whether it is perpetrated by your supervisor, a co-worker, or a customer. There are two types of sexual harassment claims under the law – quid pro quo (Latin for ‘this for that’) and hostile work environment.

Here are some examples of sexual harassment:

• An employee goes to work each day and their supervisor engages in harassing conduct such as inappropriate touching without consent.
• An employee is in an office with four other coworkers. The coworkers repeatedly create an offensive work environment by using lewd language, discussing sexual jokes, making sexual hand gestures, and engaging in other forms of inappropriate behavior in front of the worker.
• A receptionist receives unwelcome sexual advances from a client. Despite verbal requests for the advances to stop, the client continues to approach the receptionist and make reference to sexual behavior.

The above are only a few examples of sexual harassment in the workplace, and harassment can take many different forms. Talk to a sexual harassment attorney about your case to learn more about your options for stopping the behavior and getting justice for what you’ve been through.

Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment

Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when submission to sexual advances or favors is required to obtain job benefits such as a pay raise or promotion, or rejection of such conduct results in adverse job actions such as a reduction in pay, a demotion, or termination. This type of harassment is commonly perpetrated by a supervisor, manager, or other agent of an employer with the authority to make employment decisions that impact your job. It is a gross abuse of power, and employers are held strictly liable for such conduct under the law.

Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment

Hostile work environment sexual harassment claims arise when derogatory, stereotypical, or humiliating comments and ‘jokes’ occur repeatedly in the workplace such that it creates a hostile, offensive, or intimidating work environment. Whether the harassment you are enduring rises to the level that the law recognizes as constituting a legal claim depends on its severity, recurrence, and pervasiveness. One incident, such as a comment by a coworker that ‘you are a tease’ or a coworker showing a sexually explicit photo to others at work will not likely create a claim. An extreme act, however, such as a sexual assault may be sufficient standing alone. How many incidents you must endure, for how long, and how drastic of an impact those incidents must have on your work environment is case-specific and requires evaluation by an expert.

Due to the sensitive nature of sexual harassment and fear of retribution, victims often remain silent in their jobs for far too long. If you are experiencing sexually demeaning comments or conduct of any kind, you should seek assistance immediately.