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California Sexual Harassment Cases Need Three Things

Unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate conduct, or harassment based on sex or gender

Conduct that may constitute unlawful workplace harassment under California law

An employer or another party who may be legally responsible

How Workplace Sexual Harassment Can Affect Your Life

Emotional Distress

Sexual harassment can cause anxiety, depression, fear, embarrassment, and lasting emotional harm. You may be entitled to compensation for the emotional distress caused by unlawful workplace harassment.

Lost Wages

Harassment or retaliation may force you to take time away from work, reduce your hours, or leave your job entirely. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to recover qualifying lost income.

Career Setbacks

Sexual harassment can interfere with promotions, professional development, and future employment opportunities, particularly when supervisors abuse their authority or retaliate against employees who reject advances.

Medical and Counseling Expenses

Some people experiencing workplace harassment seek counseling, therapy, or medical treatment to address its physical and emotional effects. Certain related expenses may be recoverable through a successful claim.

Hostile Work Environment

Repeated inappropriate comments, sexual jokes, unwanted advances, or other offensive conduct can make your workplace feel intimidating, humiliating, or unsafe. Even a single incident may be unlawful if it is sufficiently severe.

Retaliation and Job Loss

Employees who report sexual harassment or oppose unlawful conduct may face reduced hours, unfavorable assignments, demotions, or termination. Retaliation for exercising protected workplace rights is unlawful.

Loss of Employment Benefits

If harassment or retaliation leads to wrongful termination or other adverse employment actions, you may lose health insurance, retirement contributions, bonuses, or other valuable employment benefits.

Personal Relationships

The stress and emotional consequences of workplace sexual harassment can extend beyond the workplace, affecting relationships with spouses, partners, children, and other loved ones.

Loss of Professional Confidence

Experiencing harassment can undermine your confidence, make everyday workplace interactions difficult, and create uncertainty about your professional future.

Financial Instability

When harassment disrupts your employment, the resulting loss of income and unexpected expenses can make it difficult to keep up with rent, mortgage payments, household bills, and other financial responsibilities.

It's easy to get started.

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In Their Words

Real clients share their experience.

When it came to negotiating, they didn't just settle for anything. They definitely went to the bat for me.

Lashondra
lashondra
Wistia

They took care of me, and now we're doing okay. Thank God that I went to Morgan & Morgan.

Ray
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Wistia

The company handled absolutely everything from start to finish.

Sean
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Wistia

Lashondra

lashondra

Ray

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Sean

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Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Based on select nationwide reviews.

Ways We Can Help

Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment

When a supervisor or another person with workplace authority pressures you to accept sexual advances in exchange for a promotion, continued employment, favorable assignments, or other job benefits, it may constitute unlawful quid pro quo harassment. We can investigate whether someone abused their authority and violated your rights.

Hostile Work Environment

Unwanted sexual comments, offensive jokes, inappropriate messages, explicit images, and unwelcome physical contact can contribute to a hostile work environment. Our attorneys can evaluate whether the conduct meets California's legal standards for unlawful harassment.

Sexual Harassment by Supervisors

Managers, supervisors, and other workplace leaders should not use their positions to intimidate, pressure, or sexually harass employees. California law provides important protections against supervisory harassment, and employers may be held responsible for unlawful conduct by their supervisors.

Harassment by Coworkers or Third Parties

Sexual harassment doesn't have to come from your boss to be unlawful. Coworkers, customers, clients, and other individuals may engage in conduct that creates an unlawful work environment. We can investigate the harassment and determine whether your employer or another party may be legally responsible.

Employers Who Ignore Sexual Harassment

Employers have legal responsibilities to prevent and address workplace harassment. If you reported inappropriate conduct and your employer failed to take appropriate action, our attorneys can investigate whether that failure violated California law.

Retaliation and Wrongful Termination

California law protects employees who report sexual harassment, reject unlawful advances, or otherwise exercise protected workplace rights. If you were fired, demoted, threatened, or subjected to other retaliation, we can evaluate your case and fight to hold responsible parties accountable.
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FAQ

  • What qualifies as sexual harassment in California?

    Sexual harassment in California can include unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, inappropriate touching, offensive comments, sexually explicit messages, or other unwelcome conduct based on sex or gender.

    California recognizes both quid pro quo harassment, involving employment-related pressure or demands, and hostile work environment harassment, involving conduct that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to violate the law.

    Sexual harassment can affect people of any gender, and the harasser does not have to be a supervisor. An attorney can evaluate what happened and determine whether the conduct may support a legal claim.

  • Can I file a sexual harassment claim if my employer ignored my complaints?

    Potentially. California employers have legal obligations to take reasonable steps to prevent and correct workplace harassment.

    If you reported sexual harassment to a supervisor, human resources department, or another appropriate representative and your employer failed to respond appropriately, that failure may be relevant to a legal claim.

    However, your rights are not necessarily dependent on whether you formally reported the harassment. An attorney can review the circumstances, including who was involved, what your employer knew, and how the situation was handled.

  • Can my employer fire me for reporting sexual harassment in California?

    No. California law prohibits unlawful retaliation against employees who report sexual harassment or engage in other protected activities, such as opposing discriminatory workplace practices.

    Retaliation can include wrongful termination, demotion, reduced hours, unfavorable assignments, or other adverse employment actions taken because you exercised your protected rights.

    If you experienced negative treatment after reporting harassment, a California sexual harassment attorney can investigate whether your employer violated the law.

  • What types of compensation can I recover in a California sexual harassment lawsuit?

    Depending on the circumstances, a successful sexual harassment claim may allow you to recover compensation for emotional distress, lost wages, lost employment benefits, certain medical or counseling expenses, and other qualifying losses.

    Additional remedies, including punitive damages, reinstatement, or attorney's fees, may be available in appropriate cases.

    The compensation you may recover depends on the facts of your case, the parties involved, and applicable California and federal laws. Our attorneys can evaluate your situation and help you understand your legal options.

  • Why should I choose Morgan & Morgan for my California sexual harassment case?

    Sexual harassment can leave you feeling powerless, especially when the person responsible is a supervisor, manager, or someone with influence over your career. You deserve a legal team that takes your experience seriously and has the resources to stand up to employers who violate workers' rights.

    As America’s Largest Injury Law Firm™, Morgan & Morgan has the resources to investigate workplace sexual harassment, gather evidence, review employment records, identify potential legal violations, and fight for the compensation you may deserve.

    Your case begins with a free, no-obligation consultation. And with The Fee is Free®, you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win for you.

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