Award Winning Representation
Huntington Beach Sexual Harassment Attorney
If you are dealing with unwanted comments, pressure, touching, or sexualized messages at work, a Huntington Beach sexual harassment lawyer can help you protect your job, your peace of mind, and your future. Our firm helps workers in Huntington Beach and across Orange County understand their rights, document what happened, and pursue accountability through the right legal avenue.
Why Should You Hire Our Firm
Workplace harassment cases move fast once you report them. At Nosrati Law, we step in early to help you take control of the narrative with clear documentation and a strategy built around your goals. If you are searching for a Huntington Beach sexual harassment lawyer who will treat you with respect and fight for the outcome you deserve, we are ready to help.
What Is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is considered unwelcome conduct based on sex, gender, or sexual stereotypes that affects the terms and conditions of employment. This type of harassment can be verbal, physical, visual, or digital, and can come from any person you may have to deal with at work, not just a supervisor.
There are two common forms of sexual harassment:
- Quid pro quo happens when someone with power ties a job benefit to sexual conduct, such as suggesting you must tolerate advances to keep your schedule, your hours, your promotion, or your job.
- Hostile work environment harassment happens when conduct is severe or pervasive enough to make the workplace intimidating, hostile, or offensive.
It’s important to note that harassment is often not limited to a single dramatic event but can be a pattern of repeated comments, jokes, photos, gestures, unwanted flirting, and escalating contact. It can also be retaliation after you say no or ask for the behavior to stop.
Hire a Sexual Harassment Lawyer
When you want to protect yourself and your career while building a case right from the start of this type of behavior, you will want to hire a sexual harassment lawyer. These types of employment lawyers in Huntington Beach can help in several ways, including with documentation, choosing the right reporting path, and guarding against any retaliation that may come your way.
A Huntington Beach sexual harassment lawyer will also handle communications, so you do not have to, including:
- Requests for records
- Responses to internal investigations
- Settlement discussions
The legal process for these types of claims can often be lengthy and complicated, but having the right lawyer on your side can help ease some of these stressors by helping to navigate you through the process, as well as making sure all deadlines are met.
Sexual Harassment and California Law
California provides strong protections for workers through state civil rights laws and federal law. In many cases, harassment is covered by the Fair Employment and Housing Act, enforced by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. It is often protected by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as well.
Under California law, employers have duties to take reasonable steps to prevent harassment, investigate complaints, and correct misconduct. Employers can be liable for harassment by supervisors and may also be responsible for harassment by coworkers or third parties if the employer knew or should have known and failed to act. Retaliation for reporting harassment or participating in an investigation is also unlawful.
State and Local Statistics
Unfortunately, sexual harassment is not rare in the workplace, and official data helps show why early legal guidance matters. In its 2023 annual report, the California Civil Rights Department reported 11,635 total employment complaints based on sexual harassment. Hostile environment accounted for 3.7% of those claims, while quid pro quo accounted for 0.4%.
The same report also highlighted that Orange County holds a significant share of the statewide employment complaints handled by CRD. The county alone accounted for about 4.5% of all complaints and 6.4% of right-to-sue complaints.
Federal data also reflects how often harassment overlaps with retaliation. The EEOC reported that from fiscal years 2018 through 2021, it received 27,291 charges alleging sexual harassment, and women filed 78.2% of those charges. The EEOC also reported that 43.5% of sexual harassment charges were filed together with a retaliation charge.
FAQs
Q: How Do I Report Sexual Harassment to the California Civil Rights Department?
A: To report sexual harassment to the California Civil Rights Department, you can submit an intake form online through the CRD system or contact CRD for help starting the complaint process. Be prepared to share your employer details, key dates, witnesses, and any evidence, such as texts or emails. You can also request a right-to-sue notice if needed.
Q: What Damages Can I Recover in a California Sexual Harassment Claim?
A: In a California sexual harassment claim, you may be able to recover compensation for emotional distress, lost wages and benefits, and reimbursement for job search or medical-related costs tied to the harassment. In some cases, punitive damages may apply if the conduct was especially egregious. Courts can also award attorney fees and require changes to workplace policies.
Q: Can I File a Legal Claim if My Employer Failed to Take Action After I Reported the Harassment?
A: Yes, if you reported harassment and your employer failed to investigate, stop the conduct, or protect you from retaliation, you may be able to file a claim under California law. Many cases require filing first with the California Department of Civil Rights and obtaining a right-to-sue notice. A lawyer can help you document the report and the lack of action that was taken.
Q: Do I Need to Go Through the CRD Before Filing a Sexual Harassment Claim?
A: In most California workplace sexual harassment cases, you generally must file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department first or request an immediate right-to-sue notice before going to court. This step helps satisfy the required administrative procedures and preserves your claim. It is important to talk to a lawyer early, in case there are any exceptions.
Contact Nosrati Law
You deserve a workplace where you can do your job without pressure, fear, or humiliation. If you have experienced unwanted sexual conduct, sexualized comments, or retaliation after speaking up, it is time for you to get in contact with Nosrati Law. A Huntington Beach sexual harassment lawyer can review what happened, explain your options under California and federal law, and help you take the next step with confidence.
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“In a world of employment attorneys who do a disservice to their profession, Omid consistently bucks this trend and prosecutes only the cases he believes in and clients that he trusts.”- Industry P.
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