Top Virginia Beach, VA Sexual Harassment Lawyers Near You

Visit our free Sexual Harassment Resource Center.

What Is Considered Sexual Harassment?

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, workers are protected against sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment can be conduct or comments that substantially interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment. Sexual harassment is prohibited under federal law but many states have their own employee rights laws that give further protections for workers. Sexual harassment can occur between men or women or people of any gender or sexual orientation. A sexual harassment lawsuit can allow a worker to recover lost income, loss of benefits, and in some cases, punitive damages.

What Are Forms of Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment includes hostile work environment claims and quid pro quo harassment. Quit pro quo is Latin for “this for that” and may involve a supervisor offering benefits in exchange for sexual favors. For example, if the boss says an employee will get a promotion if they have sex with the boss, that is quid pro quo harassment. Hostile work environment sexual harassment claims involve unwanted conduct or harassment that is severe or ongoing in a way that unreasonably interferes with work performance. Conduct that could create a hostile work environment includes unwanted sexual advances, repeated offensive comments, unwanted touching, or even sexual jokes or comics.

How Can I Stop Sexual Harassment?

If you are dealing with a coworker that is harassing you, tell the employee to stop the harassment immediately. You should report sexual harassment to your supervisor or human resources department. This puts the company on notice of the harassment and can protect you if you are later retaliated against or if the company does not put an end to the harassment. If the harassment continues and the company takes no meaningful action, you can contact a sexual harassment attorney for legal advice and report the sexual harassment claim to the EEOC or state agency.

I Got Fired After Reporting Harassment

Your employer cannot retaliate against you if you report harassment. It may be unlawful retaliation for an employer to fire, demote, or take any adverse employment action against a worker for engaging in protected activities, like reporting harassment or complaining about another coworker that is being harassed. If you were fired for reporting a hostile work environment, a sexual harassment lawyer can help you recover damages.

Is Sexual Harassment a Crime?

Some types of sexual harassment could also be a crime. Sexual assault, stalking, indecent exposure, lewd conduct, and other criminal charges can overlap with sexual harassment. For example, if a sexual harasser was making unwanted sexual advances at work, that could be considered harassment. If the harasser then reached out and groped the employee, that could be considered assault. If you think you may have been the victim of criminal assault, you can report the offense to law enforcement.

Can I File a Lawsuit for Sexual Harassment?

You may be able to file a lawsuit in civil court if you are a victim of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment lawsuits generally require the employer to have exhausted other pathways first, including filing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claim or going through your state employment rights agency. An employment lawyer can help you get money for lost wages, loss of benefits, and even get your job back if you were a victim of workplace sexual harassment.

Can I Sue For Harassment if I Quit?

Yes, you can file a sexual harassment claim after you quit, after you were fired, or even if you are still employed. Some workers find their jobs to be such an offensive work environment that they have no option but to quit. Talk to a sexual harassment law firm about your options for taking legal action after harassing conduct at work.

When to Hire a Lawyer

It is in your best interest to get legal help early on in addressing your situation. There are times when hiring a lawyer quickly is critical to your case, such as if you are charged with a crime. It may also be in your best interest to have a lawyer review the fine print before signing legal documents. A lawyer can also help you get the compensation you deserve if you’ve suffered a serious injury. For issues where money or property is at stake, having a lawyer guide you through the complexities of the legal system can save you time, hassle, and possibly a lot of grief in the long run.

Tips on Approaching an Initial Attorney Consultation

• Use the consultation as a means of gaining a better understanding of your legal situation.
• Ask the attorney how many cases similar to yours he/she has handled. An attorney’s experience and knowledge can speak to their expertise (or lack of) in addressing your situation.
• Your attorney should be able to articulate roughly how long a case like yours will take to resolve and what sort of procedures to expect.
• Determine how comfortable you are working with the lawyer and/or law firm.

Does firm size matter?

For most consumer legal issues, the size of the practice is much less important than the experience, competence, and reputation of the attorney(s) handling your case. Among the most important factors when choosing an attorney are your comfort level with the attorney or practice and the attorney’s track record in bringing about quick, successful resolutions to cases similar to yours.

Common legal terms explained

Personal jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority over a person, in order to bind that person to the judgment of the court, based on minimum contacts. International Shoe Co v. Washington is a landmark Supreme Court case outlining the scope of a state court’s reach in personal jurisdiction.