CLEVELAND SEXUAL HARASSMENT ATTORNEY

As an employee in Cleveland, one protected right that you have is the right to a workplace that is free from harassment, including sexual harassment. If sexual harassment is occurring, it could adversely impact you and your ability to perform work, and might be illegal. If you believe that you have been a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, you need a Cleveland sexual harassment attorney on your side. At Coffman Legal, LLC, we can help.

What Is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment does not take only one form; instead, sexual harassment includes:

• Requests for sexual favors;
• Quid pro quo interactions, where a manager or supervisor makes a request for a sexual favor in exchange for something else, such as promoting the employee;
• Unwanted touching of a sexual nature;
• Offensive remarks about a person’s sex;
• Unwelcome sexual advances; and
• Any other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.

When Is Sexual Harassment Illegal?

Sexual harassment is illegal and is a violation of an employee’s rights when it is so severe or pervasive that it creates a hostile work environment. For example, a request for a sexual favor in exchange for a raise (quid pro quo) may only happen once, but is such a severe incident that it creates a hostile work environment. Similarly, incidents of teasing and offhand comments may not seem severe when isolated into individual incidents, but could constitute a hostile work environment if they happen frequently enough.

What to Do if You’re Being Sexually Harassed

If you are being sexually harassed at work, the first thing that you should do is ask the harasser to stop the harassing behavior. The next thing that you should do is file a report with your supervisor or your company’s HR department. You should also closely document each and every incident of harassment.

If your employer does not take action to remedy the harassment or/and the harassment continues, you should consider filing a complaint with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or both. To aid you in your claim, it is advisable to hire a skilled Cleveland sexual harassment attorney.

Remedies for Sexual Harassment

Nothing can truly compensate someone who has been a victim of sexual harassment, but employers can be held liable for the economic losses sustained by a victim. You may be eligible for a promotion or other benefit you were denied, reinstatement to your position, back pay or front pay, attorneys’ fees, and more. You may also be able to seek compensation for emotional distress and, in some cases, punitive damages might be available, too.

Call Our Cleveland Sexual Harassment Lawyers Today

Filing a sexual harassment claim on your own can feel intimidating and even embarrassing. But you have legal rights, including the right to be compensated for the harm you have suffered. At the office of Coffman Legal, LLC, our Cleveland sexual harassment attorneys understand what you are going through and want to support you along the way. Call us today for your free consultation and the help you need.