Sexual harassment in the workplace is a problem that has been prevalent for many decades. It consists of unwanted and unwelcomed behavior that unbalances a power dynamic. When a powerful person harasses a less powerful person, it is often seen as indicative of a larger problem in society, patriarchy, and sexism. This type of behavior can be demeaning, demoralizing, and even traumatic for victims.
As long as these actions continue, many people will often assume that it must be “normal” for women to accept such treatment. However, it is not. You can consult a San Antonio sexual harassment attorney to know your rights if you are a victim of harassment at your workplace.
Similarly, you should hire an attorney if you have any questions concerning the difficult decision of filing a lawsuit against someone. The process is intimidating and stressful, and you will have to do a lot to prove that the harassment actually happened.
Here are different instances when you should hire a sexual harassment attorney.
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Are the comments or actions sexual in nature?
The comments or actions have to be sexual in nature and have to have occurred repeatedly. In other words, you cannot simply claim harassment because your boss was nice or kind to you or asked you out on a date. These are not sufficient. However, if this has repeated over a period of time and the situation is compromising your job performance or resulting in a hostile work environment, then you should consider hiring an attorney.
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Has action been taken to address the issue, but problems remain?
In some cases, you may not receive the necessary support from your HR department. That is why it is important for you to know that you can take legal action against your harasser without a nod of approval from your employer. You can also engage an experienced attorney who will help you find the correct measures to take in order to protect yourself.
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Are you concerned about your employer retaliating if you file a complaint?
If you have been threatened by your employer because of a sexual harassment complaint, then you should talk to an attorney about filing a lawsuit. You may want to consider taking legal action against your harasser first and addressing your employers’ concerns when the situation is under control.
