Legal Question in Sexual Harassment in California
Sexual Harassment
The man who hired me has shown behavior around women that has been uncomfortable. He signed some training classes for me and then denied them and gave me the reason, "I don't want people to think we're sleeping together". He also leers at women, has stared at me in meetings and has honked at another women crossing the street in front of me. When my stomach was hurting he asked me if I was pregnant. I said no that I just needed to go home and get some rest he commented about me laying in my "frilly little bed". Other women have told me they have also had similar experiences. He has a history of sexual harassment (has been investigated twice before) and nothing has been done. He also has even commented to the student assistants that people are jealous because he has the prettiest women working for him. He has done more to the students then he has with regular employees but it is quite evident from his behavior how he views women.
I am now I am in the middle of an investigation. I am stressed every single day. He has given me that glare that could kill and I am at a loss as to what rights I may have at this point. I would greatly appreciate anything you can provide.
Thank you,
Christina
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Sexual Harassment
This answer assumes you work for a California employer and are a California based employee. You should first request information from your employer regarding its sexual harassment policy. You should then file a complaint with the company if you determine your employment rights have been violated. You might also want to examine the company's bulletin board. Your employer is required to post several different posters concerning employment in general, and sexual harassment in particular. The poster dealing with this type of offensive conduct will explain what legal rights you might have regarding this conduct. Based upon the information you provided, your supervisor may have violated not only company policy but California and federal law as well. If you do not like the result reached by your employer with respect to your complaint, you might want to request an appointment with your local Department of Fair Employment & Housing, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It might be unwise also to check with an employment law attorney to help you through this process.