Filing A Claim For Workplace Harassment Under The EEOC
Your work environment should be a safe space. No one deserves to be harassed at their job. Your rights to a safe workplace are protected under federal employment laws and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). From our offices in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., our employment law attorneys at Southworth PC file claims for workplace harassment with the EEOC on behalf of clients nationwide.
What Is Workplace Harassment?
The EEOC defines workplace harassment as a form of workplace discrimination and declares it to be a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to the EEOC, workplace harassment is any unwelcome or offensive conduct that is based on any of the following:
- National origin, race or color
- Gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation or gender identity
- Religion, age, disability or genetic information
Harassment can be by a direct or indirect supervisor, a co-worker or even by a nonemployee. A victim of harassment can also include others affected by the offensive conduct, not just the victim. It is also not necessary that the victim was demoted or terminated from their job.
What Are The Different Types Of Harassment?
Harassment can be verbal, visual or physical. Offensive conduct that creates a hostile or offensive environment. Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advancements, suggestions or requests for sexual favors that either create a hostile workplace environment or suggest a quid pro quo (this for that) exchange.
When Is Harassment Illegal?
Harassment is illegal when the continued harassment becomes a condition of employment. In other words, an employee has no choice but to continue to endure the harassing behavior or offensive conduct as part of their job. However, the EEOC requires that, in order to be illegal, the incidents of harassment must be serious and ongoing, and not just annoyances or minor insults. Additionally, isolated incidents of harassment are not enough unless the incident was exceptionally serious.
Filing A Harassment Claim With The EEOC
Overall, a lot of factors go into determining whether an act of harassment rises to the level of illegality. An experienced employment law attorney will be able to assess the facts of your particular circumstances to determine if you have a viable EEOC claim for harassment.
Do You Have A Hostile Work Environment? Schedule A Free Case Assessment Today
There are strict filing deadlines for filing claims with the EEOC. If you think that you have a federal claim for harassment, call our employment attorneys today at 888-899-7284 or send us an email through our website to schedule your free case assessment.