What Is Sexual Harassment & When Might You Need a Sexual Harassment Attorney?

Sexual harassment can take various forms:

• unwanted sexual advances
• requests for sexual favors
• verbal or physical harassment that is sexual in nature
• the promise of advancement or reward in return for sex
• feeling unsafe because a person has acted in a sexual nature in your presence
• threats of harm or humiliation for withholding sex

Some sexual harassment is blatant and obvious. In other cases, victims might not immediately recognize that they are experiencing sexual harassment. Perhaps the advances they are starting to question or the level of inappropriateness that has occurred has become normalized and accepted.

None of these situations are okay.

A Westland sexual harassment attorney will help you understand sexual harassment, advise you of your legal rights, and work with you to determine whether or not a lawsuit is the best course of action.

Why You Need to Hire a Sexual Harassment Attorney

Sexual harassment can occur anywhere– at school, work, hospitals, bus stop, even at home. There are levels of sexual harassment that a court will examine, and an experienced attorney can help you figure out. For example:

• Does the harassment you want to report qualify as conduct that any reasonable person would consider offensive?
• Is the conduct serious or persistent?
• Is your work environment considered a hostile environment under sexual harassment law?
• Was the conduct truly unwanted?

If you have been a victim of sexual harassment, you may be reluctant to report the incident or file a claim. You are not the only one. Lots of people in similar situations fear being retaliated against, embarrassed, or ostracized because of their claims. Sexual harassment is never okay, but before you file a claim, you need to be aware of the obstacles you must cross to prove your case. You can protect yourself with the support of a sexual harassment attorney.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Sexual harassment can be prevalent in some workplaces and subtle in others. There can be entire professional cultures where sexual harassment is tolerated and never addressed. Workplace sexual harassment places victims in a precarious situation. Bringing accusations against superiors, colleagues, partners, customers, or clients can rattle the foundation of an organization and, some victims might fear, put their job in danger.

Stressing over the professional consequences that might stem from accusing an individual of sexual harassment is enough to immobilize people. But you are legally entitled to a workplace without sexual harassment. Your sexual harassment attorney can inform and assist you in any of the following situations:

• the best moves to make, whether or not your company has a sexual harassment policy
• the first step to take– report it to your company, submit a complaint, get in touch with authorities, or take legal action
• how to continue when your company ignores or denies the complaint
• what to do when your company does not take your complaint seriously or claims the behavior does not constitute sexual harassment
• when the discipline for your harasser is insufficient and does not end the harassment
• determining whether offensive behavior is targeted sexual harassment or bad judgment on the part of the accused
• the differences between supervisor harassment and coworker harassment
• the step to take if you have been disciplined, demoted, or fired because you reported sexual harassment
• figuring out whether or not you are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

It is smart for your sexual harassment attorney to be there when you meet with your company about your complaint.

When You Are Prepared to Work with a Sexual Harassment Attorney in Westland

Sexual harassment is an emotional, mental, and sometimes physical crime. Victims of sexual harassment are all equal in their suffering, and the degree of sexual harassment that you have endured does not need to be “good enough” to be deserving of a claim.

When you aren’t certain what to do first, where to turn, or when have more questions than you do answers about your sexual harassment complaint, consult with your Westland sexual harassment attorney. They will help you figure out if what you experienced is considered sexual harassment under the law and what your next step should be.

If you believe you have been a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace or in any situation, contact Marko Law at (313) 777-7LAW to schedule your free consultation. We are on your side.