Posts

How can a worker in Houston tell if workplace problems would be considered harassment?

/0 Comments/in /by

Houston, TX – There are a number of reasons why coworkers might have disagreements or arguments throughout the course of a workday. While some level of conflict is normal, there are specific issues that may rise to the level of legally actionable sexual harassment. Being able to identify problems that are sexual harassment is an important step in the process to report the behavior and make it stop. If the workplace does not seem to be cooperative and the problems continue, the victim may need to retain their own labor lawyer and take formal action through a lawsuit. 

Most common forms of workplace harassment

Things like asking for sexual favors in return for employment or promotions, constantly telling sexual or offensive jokes, or creating a hostile work environment that affects a worker’s ability to function are the most clear cut forms of harassment. Work environment problems are especially serious if someone is trying to sabotage a coworkers ability to be productive or give false or negative performance reviews as a pretext for harassment. These problems are almost always related to a worker’s gender or sex in some capacity. However, the victim’s gender does not matter, as anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment. 

Work related communications and harassment

With most workers utilizing technology throughout their workday, things like phones and computers can also become a tool for harassment. This can include displaying offensive images and videos, or even sending harassing text messages which can rise to the level of stalking. Things like using workplace communications to facilitate romantic relationships is forbidden in most workplaces. 

Investigating improper behavior

If a worker has a one time argument or makes an offensive comment, it is not likely that this would be considered harassment. Most investigations into sexual harassment consider the severity of the conduct in question. While trying to force sexual favors as a condition of continued employment is clearly sexual harassment, a dispute between coworkers that may have involved offensive language will probably not be treated as sexual harassment by any legal standard. It is difficult to give broad answers to whether any particular situation would be considered harassment by an employment commission or in a court of law, as these determinations tend to happen on a case by case basis.  Anyone who is concerned should start by reporting improper behavior to their company’s human resources department immediately. 

Assistance from employment law firms

Moore and Associates is a firm that handles all kinds of workplace problems, including those related to harassment, discrimination, and unpaid wages. Anyone who is dealing with serious workplace issues can contact one of the firm’s attorneys and decide on a course of action during an initial consultation. 

Firm contact info:

Moore & Associates

440 Louisiana Street, Suite 675, Houston, TX 77002

713-222-6775

www.mooreandassociates.net

Workers in Houston can take several steps before filing a sexual harassment lawsuit

/0 Comments/in /by

Houston, TX – Various forms of illegal harassment are a serious workplace problem. Workers who are affected can lose their ability to perform optimally at their jobs, and in serious cases they may even leave the company. A civil employment lawsuit is usually the best way for workers who were put in this situation to receive compensation and other remedies to make up for their losses. 

The structure of a harassment case

Because there are various forms of gender based discrimination and harassment, these lawsuits follow the structure of many other standard discrimination claims related to workplace behavior. There are laws that describe discriminatory workplace behavior as a severe or pervasive type of conduct that is unwelcome and affects the victim’s ability to function in their job roles. The victim needs to provide information and evidence that will help prove each element of the claim in order to prevail. 

Any kind of illegal harassment needs to be unwelcome. This means that the victim should make it clear to their superiors or coworkers that they should stop engaging in the offending behavior immediately. The victim should also document the time that they warn the offenders. 

The conduct needs to be severe or continuous in nature. In most cases, this means that there will usually be multiple incidents of harassment, or at least a severe problem such as a worker being told that they need to engage in sexual conduct to keep their job. 

A hostile work environment is another type of harassment claim. This means that the victim has been so thoroughly bothered by their harassers at work that they cannot function as normally and may even be forced to quit their job. 

Bringing the lawsuit

In most cases, the victim should report the problematic behavior to a human resources department or utilize whatever formal process the employer has available. A formal complaint may sometimes be used as evidence in a civil lawsuit.  

If the victim still feels that they need to take legal action, the first step is to retain an attorney, share the evidence of the misconduct, and have them either file a complaint with a government agency such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or to start the process to bring a civil harassment lawsuit. The lawyer can guide the victim through these processes and argue for damages related to lost pay and opportunities, along with other problems caused by the illegal behavior. 

Getting help from a local labor law firm

Workers who need to explore the possibility of a civil lawsuit can contact a local firm for more information. Moore and Associates serves workers in the Houston area with expert advice and representation. 

Firm contact info:

Moore & Associates 

440 Louisiana Street, Suite 675, Houston, TX 77002 

713-222-6775 

www.mooreandassociates.net

Why do some employees in Mississippi avoid reporting sexual harassment in the workplace?

Why do some employees in Mississippi avoid reporting sexual harassment in the workplace?

/0 Comments/in /by

As unsettling as it may sound, there is a large percentage of individuals who fail to report when an incident of sexual harassment occurs within their place of employment. But why? Why do both women and men fail to bring forward their issue so that it can be properly addressed?

Anyone who has been or thinks they have been sexually harassed at work who fails to report the incident(s) has their reasoning for doing so. Some of the more common reasons why sexual harassment victims often choose not to report an incident include:

 

  1. They are afraid of retaliation.

This is a common reason when the harasser is a supervisor, manager, or owner of the company. Many individuals worry that because someone with status is the harasser, they might retaliate against them by demoting them or even firing them if they come forward with their complaint.

 

  1. They don’t know the behavior is unacceptable.

Sexual harassment involves “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.” Because some harassers make subtle moves such as brush up against a co-worker or “accidentally” bump into them and touch them inappropriately, a victim might be uncertain as to whether the behavior is actually considered a form of sexual harassment. But the truth is, when any behavior displayed in a sexual context causes the work environment to become hostile or offensive to work in, it may be classified as a form of sexual harassment.

 

  1. They don’t know who to report it to.

Employees who are harassed by a supervisor or manager often don’t know who they can turn to for help. Generally, when an employee experiences an issue at work, they would report it to their manager or supervisor. However, if that person happens to be the harasser, then a victim might not know who they can report the incident to. Rather than explore their options, many victims choose to brush off the incident or leave their job to avoid having to endure the behavior any longer.

Although an individual might feel as though they should refrain from reporting a sexual harassment incident, whether it is to save their job or because they don’t know who to bring their complaint to, they should know there are sexual harassment lawyers in Mississippi who can help them.

 

Connect with a Mississippi Sexual Harassment Attorney for Legal Advice and Assistance

 

If an individual is being sexually harassed at work or believes their employer’s behavior might constitute as a form of sexual harassment, USAttorneys.com can help them locate a lawyer in their city who they can discuss their concerns with. Whether an individual works in Jackson, Gulfport, or any other city in MS, USAttorneys.com will help them find a MS sexual harassment attorney close to them who is available and willing to help them with their matter.