Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Massachusetts

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a pervasive issue that affects all occupations and levels. Victims can be both men and women, and harassment can occur between individuals of the same sex. The consequences of sexual harassment are profound, impacting both the victims and the entire workplace culture and morale.

If you are experiencing sexual harassment, it’s important to know that you don’t have to remain silent. Reaching out to a harassment lawyer can help you fight back and assert your right to a safe work environment. The person who harassed you can be held accountable for their actions.

Why Speak Out Against Harassment?

Your courage can make a significant impact by:

• Preventing a predator from targeting or harming someone else.
• Safeguarding yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally from further harassment.
• Putting an end to workplace harassment.
• Influencing changes in laws that protect workers from harassment across other companies.
• Transforming workplace culture to ensure harassment becomes unacceptable.

At Swartz Law, we are committed to ensuring that everyone feels safe and respected at work. We tirelessly advocate for victims of sexual harassment. Our attorney, Tara Swartz, has extensive experience in representing these cases and is sensitive to their nature. She is adept at resolving claims swiftly and confidentially.

What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment encompasses various behaviors, such as unwanted verbal or physical actions of a sexual nature, inappropriate advances, demands for sexual favors, and persistent demeaning or inappropriate sexual jokes or remarks. It is illegal whether committed by a supervisor, colleague, or customer. Legally, sexual harassment claims fall into two categories: quid pro quo (meaning ‘this for that’) and hostile work environment.

Here are some examples of sexual harassment:

• An employee experiences harassment at work, including inappropriate touching by their supervisor without consent.
• An employee shares an office with four coworkers who consistently create a hostile work environment by using offensive language, telling sexual jokes, making inappropriate gestures, and other improper behaviors.
• A receptionist faces unwelcome sexual advances from a client. Despite asking for it to stop, the client persists in making sexual remarks.

These are just a few examples of workplace sexual harassment, which can manifest in various forms. Consult a sexual harassment attorney to explore your options for stopping the behavior and seeking justice for your experiences.

Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment

Quid pro quo sexual harassment involves making job benefits, like pay raises or promotions, contingent on accepting sexual advances or favors. Conversely, refusing such advances can lead to negative job consequences, such as pay cuts, demotions, or even termination.

Typically, this harassment is committed by someone in a position of authority, like a supervisor or manager, who can make employment decisions affecting your job. It represents a serious abuse of power, and employers are strictly liable for this behavior under the law.

Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment

Hostile work environment sexual harassment claims arise when derogatory, stereotypical, or humiliating comments and “jokes” occur repeatedly in the workplace, creating a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment. Whether the harassment you experience meets the legal criteria for a claim depends on its severity, frequency, and pervasiveness. While isolated incidents, such as a coworker calling you a “tease” or showing a sexually explicit photo, may not suffice for a claim, extreme acts like sexual assault can be enough on their own.

The number of incidents, their duration, and the impact they have on your work environment are case-specific and require assessment by an expert. Determining whether the behavior constitutes a legal claim involves evaluating these factors thoroughly.

Given the sensitive nature of sexual harassment and the fear of retribution, many victims stay silent for far too long. If you are subjected to sexually demeaning comments or conduct, it is important to seek assistance immediately.

Sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct are unacceptable in the workplace. If you’re experiencing harassment, consider reaching out to a workplace harassment lawyer, as you may have a case. You have the right to pursue legal action against those violating sexual harassment laws.