Under the 1964 Civil Rights Act, sexual harassment is deemed illegal in the United States. Title VII of this law protects several types of American employees from harassment, from private and public employees to labor organizations and more.
It is essential to define what sexual harassment means. All kinds of conduct can be sexual harassment, whether it is verbal or physical. The behavior must be related to the sex of the worker or be of a sexual nature. The conduct must also be severe or pervasive and create an unhealthy working environment.
The conduct at hand can be inappropriate touching, making sexual jokes, making obscene gestures at someone, displaying obscene content to coworkers, spreading rumors about someone’s sexuality, asking someone for sexual favors, or any number of other acts that are sexual.
Any effect this has on an individual’s work performance can be considered creating a hostile work environment. Individuals who are victims of this kind of conduct can have their work performance negatively impacted, be denied a promotion, or even fired. This has happened to women in Georgia and throughout the United States.
While it is illegal under federal law, there are no specific laws in Georgia that concern sexual harassment. However, that does not mean that individuals who suffered from the consequences of being sexually harassed in the workplace cannot take action. Victims can utilize tort claims for the assault, battery, and emotional distress they suffered as a result of their harassment. There are also laws that apply to employers being accountable for the damages sustained by the victim.
How Does This Affect Women in Georgia and Across the Country?
The impact of sexual harassment is not limited to the effect it has on a victim’s job performance and career. The career impact alone is vast. Millions of dollars of wages and nearly 1 million hours of unpaid leave can hurt the victims of sexual harassment.
Many individuals who are harassed also suffer from stress reactions that can take a toll on them. Their physical health can be significantly impacted by headaches, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, weight fluctuation, nausea, and other conditions. It can also lead to a belief among women that it is dangerous to assert themselves in the workplace. Doing so could lead to harassment from their coworkers. Men are enabled to believe that female workers are no more than sex objects when this dynamic comes into play in the workplace.
How Can a Lawyer Help You with Your Sexual Harassment Case?
It can be essential to work with a lawyer if you are considering filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against your employer. Our attorneys at The Nye Law Group will help you to gather the essential evidence we will need to prove that you have been sexually harassed under Georgia and federal law. We can help you receive damages for lost wages, medical bills, and even punitive damages in some cases. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
