Are you dealing with sexual harassment at work? Check out these 3 sexual harassment questions we are often asked, then call our lawyers today.
1. How do I choose the best employment attorney in Arizona?
Knowing when to contact an employment lawyer is crucial in ensuring your rights are protected. Employment law is such a specific, fine line. It’s a narrow pathway of law, particularly with discrimination law. To find someone who can defend you properly, you really need someone who is experienced in those laws. This attorney should be experienced with the government agencies, the EEOC, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, and should be the gatekeepers for these laws. Again, you have to have Notices of Right to Sue before you can go into State or Federal Court and file suits against employers for potential violations of the law. It’s in this particular area of law more than any other of law, that you need someone who is experienced with discrimination law, EEOC law, and those agencies.
One of the things that we pride ourselves on at Smith & Green is substantial experience in those areas, particularly with the EEOC, the Department of Justice for Arizona dealing with the US Department of Justice, and other federal agencies. You will definitely need that experience from someone who understands the sensitivity of the matter. This is your livelihood. This is food on the table for your family. When someone’s employment is impacted, it seems like their world goes upside down. You want someone who is experienced, assertive, and aggressive when need be, but also understands the compassion someone needs when their life has been upset.
2. What should I do if I have been sexually harassed at work?
Any unwelcome sexual comments or advances are illegal, and you do not have to put up with them. One of our clients contacted us recently because she was subjected to unwelcome sexual remarks in the workplace. Some of the comments were being made by her general manager. The comments were very inappropriate and sexual in nature. She didn’t know what to do. She recorded some of those conversations, which is very helpful when we’re pursuing the case in court, but it didn’t put an end to it. She went to HR and filed a complaint, but they didn’t take action because of the high level of this particular employee. What I would recommend, if you experience any unwelcome sexual remarks, or sexual comments, or even sexual advances at work, is to contact an experienced employment lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona to help.
3. What should I do if I am being sexually harassed by the owner of the company I work at?
There have been clients that come to our office who tell us their stories of sexual harassment at work by the owner of their company. They have not taken action against because they do not know what remedies are available to them. It often makes them feel that they cannot report this harassment because it comes from so high up, so they don’t take it to HR. Waiting an extended period of time can be a bad thing, but luckily, we have been able to see our clients before the statute of limitations runs out. It is hard for these clients to take this to HR because they might feel like there will be no recourse.
Here at Smith & Green, we recognize that the analysis of harassment from an owner is different than it would be from a coworker. When it’s someone that’s that high up, you feel like there is no one else to report it to.
With many clients that feel like they’ve been harassed by owners or by people that are so high up to where there’s nowhere else to go, it could fall under an alter ego analysis. There’s some analysis under the law that the attorney will look at with you to qualify that as alter ego analysis and harassment, which is liability per say. The employer is always liable for alter ego harassment. You should sit and talk with a lawyer about that so they could analyze the facts of your case regarding that analysis.
Do you need help with an employment law matter but don’t know how to start? After reading our 3 sexual harassment questions, contact our dedicated Phoenix employment lawyers for a free confidential consultation and let our experience work for you.
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