If you’ve experienced harassment in the workplace, hiring a workplace harassment lawyer in Los Angeles can benefit you. Learn how here.
While harassment in the workplace can be humiliating and belittling, those who experience it are far from alone. 23% of people around the world have experienced violence, harassment, or discrimination at work.
If you’re contending with a toxic Los Angeles workplace, a workplace harassment lawyer in Los Angeles may be able to help you obtain fair compensation for your strife. Read on to learn some top reasons that you should hire an experienced lawyer to combat harassment.
Sexual Harassment
A survey of nearly 2000 Americans found that 52% of all employees have faced workplace harassment.
Besides standard bullying, sexual harassment was the #1 most common claim. 40% of American women have dealt with sexual harassment in the workplace.
This should come as no surprise since most people in our society have experienced sexual harassment. 81% of women and 43% of men have been the victims of this form of misconduct.
If you experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, you may be entitled to compensation if your employer did not take reasonable measures to prevent it or if a supervisor or manager engaged in the harassing conduct. An attorney can help you through this process.
Workplace Discrimination
Some groups of individuals are legally protected in the case of employment discrimination. It is illegal for Los Angeles workplaces to discriminate based on:
- Race, color
- Ancestry, national origin
- Sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions)
- Age (40 and over)
- Gender identity, gender expression
- Sexual orientation
- Religion, creed
- Disability, mental and physical
- Medical condition
- Genetic information
- Marital status
- Military or veteran status
This means that you cannot be terminated because of these facets of your identity. It also means that you must receive both equal employment opportunities and equal opportunities in the workplace.
Harassment based on a protected class is illegal. It limits opportunities for marginalized communities and creates a hostile work environment. If you have been harassed because of your status as a member of a protected class, an attorney can assist you.
Wrongful Termination
It’s illegal for Los Angeles employers to fire employees because they fall into a protected class.
Employers don’t usually outright say “we’re firing you because of your skin color,” but they may consistently display patterns of discrimination and inappropriate behavior. If you have faced unchecked workplace discrimination or noticed a pattern of an employer firing people in protected classes, an attorney may be able to help establish the reason you were terminated.
You may then be entitled to compensation for lost wages, the impacts of emotional distress, and legal fees.
Help Understanding Your Rights
Regardless of what type of harassment you’ve faced, a Los Angeles employment lawyer can help you understand your rights.
After an incident, you likely will have many questions regarding your legal workplace rights. You need to determine whether an illegal act took place. You’ll want to know what compensation you’re entitled to based on what damages can be established.
An experienced attorney can answer any and all questions that you have about employment law standards. They can help you comb over workplace documents detailing your pay structure, benefits packages, and termination rules. They can tell you which harassment laws were violated and how this may impact your rights and obligations.
You’ll have an advocate to assist you and fight for your rights.
Immediate Assistance
California law requires employers to uphold and maintain safe working environments.
Workplace harassment can cause conditions like anxiety, depression, and even PTSD in some cases. Physical symptoms like headaches, sleep problems, and weight loss/gain are also possible effects.
If you’re in an unsafe situation, an employment attorney can provide you with legal means to leave that setting. They can pursue your claim and advocate on your behalf to have the employer or company stop and/or correct the negligent or intentional behavior. They also can help you recover financial damages if you were forced out of the workplace to escape verbal or physical harassment.
Defense Against Employer Retaliation
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and California Department of Fair Employmenta and Housing protect employees against workplace retaliation. Reporting harassment or discrimination is a protected act.
Employer retaliation often manifests when an employer wrongfully terminaties or demotes an employee who has made a complaint about something that was illegal, discriminatory, or harassing. In some cases, they may covertly decrease the employee’s hours or give them an unfair performance review.
Those reporting harassment need an attorney to help protect them against employer retaliation. They can stay alert for signs that you’re being unfairly punished for opening up a legal case. You’ll be less likely to face having your wages or hours decreased, being wrongfully terminated, or excluded from workplace activities.
If you do face these unfair penalties, the already-hired lawyer will act swiftly to help you pursue just compensation.
Multiple Types of Compensation
Compensation after harassment in the workplace can take many forms. What you get will depend on the losses that you face.
If you were forced to resign because of harassment, for example, you may be able to get compensation for future wages. If you required therapy as a result of the incident, you may be able to collect the funds to pay for your therapy bills.
You may even be able to get punitive damages if an officer, director, or managing agent of the company acted in a way that was malicious, oppressive, or fraudulent, or if an officer, director or managing agent of the company authorized, permitted, or ratified the malicious, oppresive, or fraudulent conduct.
It is important to note that harassment victims are not the only people who may be entitled to compensation. Other employees who witnessed events also may suffer mental and emotional distress. Employee morale will also likely decrease, and the hostile work environment can impact everyone in the workplace.
If you have witnessed an instance of harassment, you may also wish to see an employment attorney. They can help you determine whether you’re entitled to damages as well as the direct victims of the incident.
Hire a Workplace Harassment Lawyer in Los Angeles
Now that you know some reasons to hire a workplace harassment lawyer in Los Angeles, it is time to consult with the best talent Los Angeles has to offer. Legal cases can be complex and frustrating, but professional help can make the process easier and less isolating.
Our team is committed to helping both individuals and groups contend with harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in the workplace and get them the compensation they deserve. Contact Matern Law Group with any remaining questions you may have and schedule a free consultation today.
