Pennsylvania Workplace Sexual Harassment Lawyer
Workplace sexual harassment involves unwelcome sexual comments or physical advances while on the job. If you’ve experienced this kind of harassment, you may be able to hold the perpetrator and possibly the employer legally responsible. Cordisco & Saile LLC’s Pennsylvania workplace sexual harassment lawyers advocate daily for victims and can help you seek justice. Learn about what you can do if you have experienced harassment at work.
Nobody should have to tolerate sexual harassment in the workplace. Unfortunately, however, it happens all too often. Around 80 percent of women and 20 percent of men have reported being sexually harassed on the job.
Sexual harassment is against the law—it’s a civil rights violation. Although it’s a form of sex-based discrimination, it can happen to any gender and be committed by any gender. It can also happen between people of the same gender.
It can be uncomfortable to come forward about sexual harassment, but you can discuss your experiences with a trusted Pennsylvania workplace sexual harassment lawyer in confidence. Cordisco & Saile LLC offers a free case evaluation so you can learn risk-free how we might be able to help you.
How Can Cordisco & Saile Help?
Cordisco & Saile’s Pennsylvania workplace sexual harassment lawyers have decades of experience advocating for victims seeking justice. Our case results show we consistently get fair and just compensation for our clients.
Each person’s situation is different, but we typically do the following in every case:
- Analyze and evaluate your sexual harassment claim.
- Discuss your legal options.
- Thoroughly investigate your case and gather evidence.
- Prepare and file paperwork.
- Negotiate for a settlement that fairly compensates you for your damages.
- Take your case to trial, if necessary.
Our firm works on a contingency basis. That means you do not owe us any fees until you get financial compensation. We don’t get paid unless you recover compensation.
We’re ready to fight for you. Take the first step towards getting the compensation you deserve.
Free Case Evaluation
Why Hire a Lawyer?
Sexual harassment can be hard to talk about outside a supportive environment. While an employer should have in-house procedures that enable you to report harassment, doing so can feel intimidating and uncomfortable.
A lawyer levels the playing field, giving you a professional in your corner. They can provide objective counsel while advocating for your rights. Sexual harassment law can be complex, and a lawyer can help you navigate a legal process and fight for your rights against your harasser or employer.
At Cordisco & Saile, our clients are family. We can help you decide what to do next if you are being harassed.
Examples of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Sexual harassment is illegal and can take many forms. It may include:
- Unwelcome sexual advances
- Requests for sexual favors
- Verbal, physical, or visual conduct relating to your sex
According to the Office of Victim Advocate in Pennsylvania, “against your will is against the law.”
When sexual harassment happens on the job, your employer or the perpetrator can be held legally responsible. Here are examples of workplace sexual harassment:
- You were asked to perform a sexual act, and your compliance was a condition of your employment or other employment-related decisions.
- A colleague’s unwanted physical touches are interfering with your work performance.
- A colleague makes regular sexual remarks in meetings, creating an uncomfortable or hostile work environment.
Addressing and preventing sexual harassment requires creating a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, regardless of gender or identity.
The lawyers at Cordisco & Saile understand that coming forward about sexual harassment is not easy. We are here to listen to your story. As dedicated personal injury lawyers, we have consistently made our clients feel comfortable and safe as we advocate for their legal rights.
What Constitutes Quid Pro Quo?
There are two types of sexual harassment—quid pro quo harassment and hostile work environment.
Quid pro quo harassment in the workplace happens when a boss or manager requests sexual favors in exchange for a job-related benefit or to avoid a job-related risk. Examples include:
- Offering a promotion in exchange for a sexual favor
- Threatening to fire unless a sexual favor is granted
These threats or offers do not have to be explicit, although they might be. It is enough under sexual harassment law for the exchange to be implied.
What Constitutes a Hostile Work Environment?
Hostile work environment harassment occurs when an individual faces unwelcome sexual advances, comments, jokes, or other conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile work atmosphere.
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a hostile environment can occur when comments are severe or pervasive. However, isolated or offhand remarks might not rise to the level of harassment.
Even if you are not the direct target of the harassment, you might also have a sexual harassment claim if the behavior affects you. If an individual in your workplace continually targets one of your co-workers with sexual language to the point of hostility, and it also impacts you on the job, you might also have standing to sue.
Workplace Sexual Assault
People often use the terms “sexual assault” and “sexual harassment” interchangeably. They are both unacceptable forms of behavior that have different legal consequences.
Although you can sue an individual or your employer for sexual harassment, their behavior might not constitute a crime. Therefore, a perpetrator will not face criminal charges unless their behavior rises to the level of an assault.
Sexual assault is a serious crime in Pennsylvania. The law defines it as engaging in sexual intercourse with someone without their consent. In this state, sexual assault is a second-degree felony.
Indecent assault is also a crime in Pennsylvania. It occurs when a person touches the sexual or intimate parts of another person without consent.
You cannot consent if you are intoxicated or otherwise unable to agree to the behavior. The person who performed the assault can be held criminally responsible.
If you have experienced sexual assault, indecent assault, or other forcible or unwanted touching in the workplace, a lawyer can counsel you regarding the next steps.
Cordisco & Saile are personal injury attorneys whose sole focus is standing up for people who others have harmed. Talk to us today.
Who Is Liable?
When you experience sexual harassment in the workplace, your employer might be held liable. If your employer knows or should know that the harassment is happening, they must take quick action to stop it. If they don’t, you might be able to sue.
Employers are obligated to take measures to prevent workplace sexual harassment. Such initiatives include the following:
- Providing sexual harassment training to employees
- Establishing a complaint procedure for anyone who experiences harassment
- Taking immediate and appropriate action in response to a complaint
An employer or individual cannot retaliate against someone who files a complaint about sexual harassment or against anyone who participates in an investigation.
Depending on the circumstances of the case, the individual who harassed you might also face legal consequences. The lawyers at Cordisco & Saile can help evaluate the details of your case to help you decide on possible next steps.
Work With a Pennsylvania Workplace Sexual Harassment Lawyer at Cordisco & Saile
It is not easy to come forward about workplace sexual harassment. But if you’ve been harassed on the job, you have legal options and can get help standing up for your rights.
Contact Cordisco & Saile today through our online form or call us at 215-642-2335 for a free case evaluation.
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900 Northbrook Drive #120 Feasterville-Trevose, PA 19053
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