Sexual Harassment

Under California law it is illegal to harass an employee because of their race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation or military and veteran status.

Harassing conduct includes verbal harassment, visual harassment, physical harassment, and unwanted sexual advances.

 

Verbal harassment includes derogatory comments or slurs, jokes, comments about a person’s appearance or conduct. Verbal harassment can also include sexual overtures or inappropriate inquiries into a person’s private life.

 

Physical harassment includes unwelcome touching, physical interference with a person’s movement or work (such as blocking a person from freely moving), or assault.

 

Visual harassment includes derogatory posters, cartoons, or drawings.

 

Unwanted sexual advances, often referred to as quid pro quo harassment, includes conditioning an employment benefit (such as employment, a promotion, or raise) on the exchange of sexual favors.

 

Employers have a duty to take all steps to prevent harassment. This includes providing training and taking steps to remedy and address harassment that they know is occurring (or has occurred).

If you have been subjected or exposed to harassment in the workplace, you can contact the Schlehr Law Firm to find out more about your rights.

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