What Constitutes Sexual Harassment at Work?

The explosive allegations against Harvey Weinstein, and accusations that the Weinstein Company was aware of his behavior, but failed to do anything to stop it, raise many questions and concerns about work place harassment. Sexual harassment is prohibited by federal anti-discrimination law (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) and is considered a form of sex discrimination.

Sexual assault, on the other hand, is a separate and distinct matter, and would be subject to a criminal investigation.

What constitutes workplace sexual harassment is not specifically defined, and generally consists of more than just a single instance of requesting a date, or an inappropriate comment. Each situation is different, but when a co-worker’s inappropriate behavior becomes so severe and pervasive as to affect the terms and conditions of your employment, you have an obligation to complain to your supervisor. As a victim of harassment, it is important to alert management about the situation, and give them an opportunity to address the behavior. If your supervisor does nothing about it, then you likely have a strong case for sexual harassment.

The next step would be to file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to begin an investigation. An experienced Atlanta sexual harassment lawyer could assist you with this process. If you are successful and your employer is found liable, you may be able to recovery money, and in some situations, request that the employer change their practices.

As Georgia sexual harassment lawyers we are here to help if you believe you have experienced sexual harassment.

For more information, or for a confidential case evaluation, please contact our dedicated Georgia employment discrimination lawyers at Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP for an immediate case evaluation.