One in four US women harassed at work, but few come forward

February 09, 2013 (Press-News.org) One in four US women harassed at work, but few come forward

Article provided by Yadegar, Minoofar & Soleymani LLP
Visit us at http://www.bestsexualharassmentlawyers.com/

Roughly one in four U.S. women has experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, according to a poll conducted in 2011 by ABC News and the Washington Post. As high as it may seem, this figure actually represents a substantial improvement from just two decades ago, when the sexual harassment rate was nearly one in three -- but there is still a lot of room for improvement. An important part of continuing to eliminate this problem from the workplace is encouraging employees to speak up when they experience sexual harassment.

Unfortunately, many people who suffer sexual harassment at work never report it. There are a number of reasons that people can be reluctant to come forward when they have been harassed at work, including:
-A belief that reporting the harassment won't help. Many people who are harassed at work fear that reporting the harassment won't help, or worse still, that it will only make matters worse.
-Fear of being blamed. People who have experienced sexual harassment may be reluctant to speak up for fear of being blamed for the harassment or told that they invited it through their appearance or demeanor.
-Shame and embarrassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace can be an intensely humiliating experience for those who are targeted. In some cases, harassment victims are reluctant to speak up for fear of drawing more attention to a situation that they find deeply embarrassing.

When people overcome their fears and speak up about sexual harassment, they help others as well as themselves by holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions and forcing businesses to address the issue. Often, when one employee complains about sexual harassment, it gives others the courage to speak up as well once they realize that they are not alone.

Sexual harassment laws in California

Sexual harassment in the workplace is prohibited by state and federal laws. At the federal level, sexual harassment of employees is barred under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. State law provides additional protections under the California Fair Housing and Employment Act.

Sexual harassment is defined in general terms as any unwelcome sexual conduct in the workplace, whether physical or verbal in nature. Workplace sexual harassment falls into two main categories:
-Quid Pro Quo: Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when a supervisor requires an employee to perform sexual favors in exchange for job benefits such as employment, salary increases or promotions. Quid pro quo sexual harassment also occurs when an employee's rejection of a supervisor's sexual advance results in termination or other negative employment consequences.
-Hostile Work Environment: Sexual harassment also occurs when unwelcome sexual conduct creates a hostile or abusive work environment, regardless of whether employment decisions have been based on the employee's willingness or unwillingness to provide sexual favors. Examples of conduct that may contribute to a hostile work environment include unwelcome physical touching, sexual jokes or images, and physical interference with a person's movement.

Employees who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace may be able to recover monetary damages for the harm they have endured. Contact an experienced sexual harassment lawyer for more information about the process of pursuing a claim and the damages that may be available.