Personal Injury Law Firm

Every employee deserves to work in an environment that is safe, and free of any type of assault or harassment. Sadly, workplace sexual assault is all too common. Attorneys take reports of sexual assault very seriously, and have the legal knowledge to help you seek retribution for the trauma. Survivors of sexual assault may not come forward immediately, out of fear of losing their jobs. If you or someone you love has been the victim of workplace sexual harassment, please know that you are not alone.

Examples of Sexual Assault

Victims of workplace sexual assault can take legal action against the perpetrator for their awful behavior. While every state recognizes sexual assault as a crime, the categories of behavior and ramifications may vary. To know more about your state laws, you can consult with an attorney for insight. Examples of sexual assault in the workplace can include:

• Undesired sexual advances
• Inappropriate sexual touching
• Crude verbal comments or gestures of a sexual nature
• Threatening to get fired for not engaging in sexual favors
• Sexual discrimination
• Quid pro quo (sexual acts in trade for a promotion)

When the Sexual Assault Continues

Those affected by workplace sexual assault may suffer from more than just one incident. In order to cope with what has occurred, the victim may think they are at-fault or trick themselves into believing it didn’t really happen. Please remember that you should not feel responsible for such painful abuse, and that you should not have to quit your job in order to escape such treatment. An attorney can help you take legal action to protect your safety and hold the offender accountable.

How to Respond

If someone you work with ever makes unwanted sexual advances or forces unconsented sexual behavior upon you, report it immediately. If it is your boss that sexually assaulted you, turn to a human resources manager or another supervisor that you trust with urgency. Your employer should provide a safe working environment in which you are protected from sexual assault. If your claim was not handled seriously or you suffered backlash for reporting it, we recommend contacting a sexual assault lawyer MD offers without delay. They can help you file a lawsuit against the company, in which they may have to pay you for damages and emotional distress. You may also be entitled to receiving repayment for loss of wages, if you called out sick or quit due to the sexual assault.

Thank you to our friends and contributors at Cohen & Cohen, P.C. for their insight into personal injury cases and victims of sexual assault.