Hamden Sexual Harassment Attorneys Seek Justice for Workers
Experienced Connecticut employment lawyers assist victims of mistreatment
No employee should be subjected to sexual harassment of any kind. Unfortunately, some people are still plagued by bosses and co-workers who make sexual demands or subject them to a hostile work environment. If you are being victimized by sexual harassment at work, the employment lawyers of Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C. are ready to assert your rights and pursue legal relief on your behalf.
What is a hostile work environment?
A hostile work environment is one in which an employee is subjected to offensive conduct, speech or images related to sex, gender or some other legally protected personal characteristic. To support a claim for relief, the harassment must be severe or pervasive. You can bring hostile work environment claim even if someone else in your position is not negatively affected.
Once an employee notifies their employer regarding the existence of a hostile work environment, the business must take reasonable steps to alleviate the problem or face potential liability. Therefore, one of the first steps in addressing it is to make a report with a manager or human resources worker. You should keep any tangible evidence of the harassment, such as offensive emails, notes and images. Records of complaints you made can also bolster your case. If you think you might be the victim of a hostile work environment, our experienced employment lawyers can review your situation, investigate further and outline your options. If warranted, we will file a complaint with the Connecticut Commission of Human Rights and Opportunities (CCHRO) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Our firm can also represent you in a lawsuit to recover damages.
What is quid pro quo sexual harassment?
Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when an employee’s boss, or someone else with a superior workplace position, demands or requests sexual favors in exchange for some type of job benefit. This can include threatening an employee with dismissal or other negative work consequences if they don’t give into their supervisor’s pressure.
For instance, if your boss promises to give you a promotion if you go out with him or her, or says you’ll be fired if you don’t, that is quid pro quo sexual harassment. Likewise, an employer cannot retaliate against someone who reports sexual harassment to a supervisor. In retaliation cases, your employer needs to show a justifiable, non-discriminatory reason for taking action against you. When a business makes up a legal pretext for a retaliatory firing, we counter their defense and strive to prove that an improper motive exists. You should preserve any evidence that indicates your treatment lacked a legal basis (such as previous positive work evaluations).
If the situation is not remedied by your employer, the next step is usually a claim before the CCHRO or EEOC. Typically, these administrative options must be taken before filing a lawsuit. Should your claim be successful, you can recover lost wages and benefits, as well as compensation for emotional distress, attorney fees and possibly punitive damages. We will help you construct your case, file the complaint and represent you every step of the way.
Is same-sex sexual harassment illegal?
Sexual harassment is against the law regardless of whether the perpetrator and the victim are the same or different genders. Women and men can bring claims. Likewise, sexual preference does not matter. You may prove your case through the same kind of proof you would in any other case involving the same kind of conduct, and you are entitled to the same kinds of damages.
Contact a skilled Connecticut sexual harassment lawyer
Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C. fights for Connecticut clients who face sexual harassment. For more information, please call 203-745-0942 or contact us online. Our offices are in Hamden and East Haven.