Cherry Hill Sexual Harassment Lawyers

The experience of being sexually harassed on the job is demeaning, demoralizing, and destabilizing. Whether it occurs one time or repeatedly, sexual harassment in the work environment can make it difficult, if not impossible, for victims and their colleagues to perform their jobs.

Make no mistake, sexual harassment in the workplace is illegal. The Cherry Hill sexual harassment lawyers at The Gold Law Firm P.C. believe it is important for all employees to recognize sexual harassment when it occurs, know how to report it, and understand their rights under federal and state laws.

How Can You Recognize Sexual Harassment?

Although sexual harassment can take on many forms, the one common characteristic of all harassing behavior is that it is unwelcome. It may include:

Unwelcome sexual advances, either verbal or physical
Requests for sexual favors
Lewd comments or sexual insults
Display of pornographic materials
Leering

If submission to the conduct is explicitly or implicitly a term of employment or the basis for employment decisions, it is illegal. Sexual harassment is also illegal if it creates a hostile work environment and interferes with the person’s work performance. Our Cherry Hill sexual harassment lawyers assist workers in identifying workplace conduct that fits the definition of harassment. Our experienced attorneys assess sexual harassment claims and help victims collect the type of evidence needed to build a strong case.

Where and When Does Sexual Harassment Occur?

Sexual harassment can happen at any time and in any workplace. Studies have shown that at least 10 percent of men and up to 80 percent of women in the workforce have been sexually harassed at some point during their careers.

Workers in all sectors may be victims of sexual harassment. However, some types of workers face higher risks of harassment than others, including the following:

Workers who are not U.S. citizens
Restaurant and hospitality workers and others who work for tips
Employees who work in an isolated office
Women working in male-dominated jobs, including construction, logging, science, engineering, and medicine
Employees working with those who are significantly more powerful within the company

Sexual harassment typically has more to do with the power dynamic between two people rather than sexual desire. Those who knowingly perpetrate sexual harassment seek to intimidate their victims.

What Laws Make Sexual Harassment Illegal?

On the federal level, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex. Sexual harassment is considered a form of discrimination. New Jersey has implemented legal protections that are even stronger than federal statutes.

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) specifically describes two forms of sexual harassment:

Quid pro quo: This occurs when an employee perceives that they must tolerate sexual advances or engage in a sexual relationship to avoid adverse consequences.
Hostile work environment: If an employee is subject to sexual, offensive, or abusive conduct due to their gender or gender expression, the result is an unlawful work environment.

How Do You Report Sexual Harassment?

If you feel you have been subjected to sexual harassment at work, the first step is to seek professional legal counsel from an experienced Cherry Hill sexual harassment lawyer. In New Jersey, claims of sexual harassment may be filed with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR). Federal claims are filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Since New Jersey laws are stronger the federal laws, claims in New Jersey typically invoke the NJLAD and are filed with the DCR.