3 Reactions To Sexual Harassment At Work

You would think that 20 years into the 21^st century, our social consciousness would have shifted for the better for men and women in the workplace. Alas, we know that even though some meaningful changes have been made and some social behaviors modified, harassment in the workplace is still pervasive. Our Los Angeles sexual harassment attorneys at Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers are here to tell you that we believe you, and yes, you were harassed.

Sexual harassment is no joke. Sexual harassment is unwelcome behavior in the form of sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or inappropriate sexual remarks. It can trap subordinates to be complicit to keep their jobs or get promotions. Sexual harassment of any kind creates a hostile work environment. It is estimated that 12% of sexual harassment cases occur daily or on a weekly basis. Due to the intimate nature of this harassment, women under-report because they are fearful or in denial that it happened. According to recent data,   25-85% of women have experienced some sexual harassment in the workplace.

To help you process your situation, here are three common reactions to sexual harassment at work:

1. Fear

This is the most common reaction for sexual harassment victims. They may be fearful of interacting with that person again because they do not want to succumb to the same behavior. The victim may fear working with the harasser or fear not doing work for the harasser.  Regardless, fear is an immense feeling to someone who was sexually harassed and not one to be ignored.

2. Depression

This is also a prevalent feeling amongst people who have experienced this type of harassment. Even though the victim may know that they were not the cause of the harassment, it is hard to understand why a person may violate them in such away. Sexual harassment is pervasive, but that doesn’t mean you should be able to “handle” it. It is unacceptable behavior in any industry.

3. Trouble Concentrating

People who experience sexual harassment may find it hard to stay on task. It is difficult to continue working as usual if you have a supervisor misbehaving or a coworker making crude comments. It is hard to stay focused when you are unsure when an unwanted behavior will occur.

What We Do

Our sexual harassment attorneys at Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers in Los Angeles are seasoned in dealing with this kind of situation. We understand the discomfort of the situation and how frustrating it is for you. Our attorneys will be sure to represent you to get you the justice you deserve in back pay, loss of income, medical costs (if any), and/or emotional distress. Together we can help make your voice heard. Together we can make a greater impact in taking steps closer to a more equal habitable workplace. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 310-527-6994.