Reporting Sexual Harassment In California: A Step-By-Step Guide For Employees In Los Angeles

In this article, you can discover…

• What to do if you are sexually harassed in the workplace.
• The evidence you should gather, if possible, to help your case.
• What to do if you are unsure whether an incident counts as sexual harassment.

What Are The First Steps To Take When I Experience Sexual Harassment At Work?

Be sure to document the incidents of harassment, whether they be physical contact, groping, inappropriate comments, or inappropriate requests for a personal relationship outside of work. This is true whether the behavior is a one-time event or part of a larger pattern of behavior.

Note what happened, with whom, when, and where. Sending yourself an email or a text documenting the incident can verify dates and ongoing patterns of behavior, serving as a helpful form of evidence when you move forward with your case.

What Evidence Do I Need To Gather Before Reporting Sexual Harassment At Work?

Notes from you documenting what happened, when, and with whom, will be helpful. Catalog this information and present it to your employer. Ideally, your employer will do the right thing and take corrective action. If you don’t have written documentation of the incidents, you should still feel free to bring these issues to your employer and describe what happened.

You can also show this documentation to an employment rights attorney to see how to get your situation rectified.

How Can I Ensure Confidentiality When Filing A Sexual Harassment Report?

My law office makes a serious effort to ensure confidentiality. Your employer will also typically have rules in place meant to protect you from retaliation after you report the incident. Unfortunately, these protections are not always respected, which is why it is important to reach out to an experienced employment lawyer.

Once you decide to file a lawsuit against your employer, it can be more difficult to maintain anonymity. However, courts in California may also allow for anonymous filing, especially in cases where you have suffered rape, assault, or egregious physical harassment in the workplace.

Attorney Wilmer J. Harris is a respected, accomplished employment law attorney serving California. For 35 years, he’s helped clients just like you seek dignity, damages, and justice after workplace sexual harassment causes trauma and harm.

Have questions, or in need of legal help? Reach out to attorney Wilmer J. Harris for a free initial consultation today.

Call For A Free Case Evaluation (626) 465-7792

What Typically Happens After I File A Sexual Harassment Report?

When you file a report of sexual harassment within your workplace, ideally, your employer will conduct a reasonable investigation. They may talk with you one-on-one, talk with the person accused of wrongdoing separately, and talk with any witnesses to the conduct. This investigation may be conducted by your employer’s HR department or by an outside investigator.

At the same time, it is a good idea to reach out to an employment rights attorney as soon as possible. This can prove helpful should your employer not handle your complaint to your satisfaction or does not seem to have your best interests at heart.

If your employer ignores your complaint entirely, reach out to an attorney for help and representation.

What Should I Do If I’m Unsure Whether My Experience Qualifies As Sexual Harassment?

Reach out to an employment rights attorney with experience handling sexual harassment cases. During an initial consultation, explain your experiences and the incidents you’ve faced, and a good lawyer can help you understand if you likely have a strong case.

Reaching out to a lawyer should never cause you fear, embarrassment, or shame. I’ll empower you to understand your rights, including the right to be safe from dehumanizing, embarrassing encounters at work.

I’ll make sure you understand that the law is behind you and gives you the right to pursue relief in court. I also empathize deeply with my clients, and have represented dozens of victims with care, dignity, and the support they need.

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?

For more information on reporting sexual harassment at work, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (626) 465-7792 today.