Sexual Harassment
Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and a similar state law make it unlawful for an employer to sexually harass an employee. Sexual harassment is defined by the EEOC as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature which are implicitly or explicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, which are the basis of employment decisions, or which unreasonably interfere with the employee’s performance or work environment. Sexual harassment is generally categorized as either “hostile environment sexual harassment” or “quid pro quo” sexual harassment in which an employee is often threatened if the employee does not engage in sexual activities. Sexual harassment may be either physical or verbal and it may apply to men and women. Sexual harassment laws also make it unlawful for an employer to retaliate against an employee for complaining about sexual harassment or opposing sexual harassment.
Title VII and the corresponding state law apply to employers with 15 or more employees. Sexual harassment claims generally must be filed with the EEOC or the TWC before an employee can file a lawsuit. A good Austin sexual harassment lawyer will have extensive knowledge and experience in all of these areas. We do.
What We Can Do If You Are An Employer
It’s a minefield out there. We can help you navigate it with confidence. Because this is a complicated area of the law, an employer would be well-advised to have an experienced Austin sexual harassment lawyer draft or review their policies for appropriate legal compliance and make recommendations to minimize litigation risks. We provide these services. We also conduct internal workplace investigations if a complaint has been made, or a problem is suspected. With respect to sexual harassment-related employment issues, we counsel and advise businesses; represent businesses when complaints are made against them to the EEOC, TWC or Department of Labor; prepare severance agreements; tenaciously represent businesses who are being sued in lawsuits, arbitrations and mediations; and handle almost any other employment issue you can imagine. We have been very successful in our representation of employers and we invite you to review the testimonials from several of the employers we have represented on employment matters. If you are an employer who would like to have an experienced and knowledgeable Austin sexual harassment attorney who has a long track record of success for employers on your side, contact us.
What We Can Do If You Are An Employee
Unfortunately, not all employers comply with the laws on sexual harassment. Being subjected to sexual harassment can devastate one’s life and finances. If you believe you have been subjected to sexual harassment, we urge you to contact a knowledgeable, experienced and successful Austin sexual harassment lawyer. A good Austin sexual harassment lawyer can explain the law in this area; advise you as to whether your employer has engaged in illegal conduct against you; advise you of your rights and options; intercede with your employer when appropriate; represent you before the TWC or EEOC; and aggressively prosecute your lawsuit if your case cannot be reasonably settled. We do all of these things and have done so for well over 20 years. We invite you to review the testimonials from some employees we have represented on employment matters. If you are an employee who would like to have an experienced and knowledgeable Austin sexual harassment attorney with a long track record of success for employees on your side, contact us.