Fort Worth Sexual Harrassment Attorneys
Pursuing Compensation for Harassment in the Workplace — Tarrant County Workplace Harassment Lawyer
All employees in the public and private sector in Texas have a right to a workplace free of harassment, which constitutes a form of prohibited discrimination when targeting a worker based on gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristic. Discrimination and harassment in the workplace based on these immutable characteristics could entitle you to financial compensation. Fort Worth workplace harassment attorneys at Fulgham Hampton Law Group work diligently to investigate unlawful discrimination and pursue the fullest remedies under anti-harassment laws.
What Constitutes Illegal Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
Most people recognize that a manager, supervisor, or owner who conditions hiring, promotions, or any other term, privilege or condition of employment on sexual favors commits unlawful sexual harassment, which is referred to as “quid pro quo” harassment. Examples of this form of sexual harassment might include a supervisor who threatens to terminate a worker if he or she does not agree to perform sexual favors or a company that transfers an employee to a less desirable shift after the employee has reported a manager for sexual harassment.
However, the term “sexual harassment” also encompasses a far broader scope of conduct that includes physical touching of a sexual nature or unwelcome advances. If you are subjected to these types of conduct, you might have a claim for sexual harassment if they create a hostile, offensive, or intimidating work environment or unreasonably interfere with the performance of your job duties. Comments that are innocent in nature or simple teasing do not constitute prohibited sexual harassment, but as the conduct becomes more pervasive and extreme, the pattern of behavior can become sexual harassment.
Importance of Understanding Your Legal Rights
Many people unnecessarily endure sexual harassment and other forms of harassment in the workplace by a supervisor, owner, co-worker, non-employee agent of an employer, or even a non-employee like a customer because they do not know their rights. The key to avoiding such conduct is to understand your protections under federal and Texas law.
While sex and gender constitute the most common form of harassment claim, harassment, bullying conduct and other forms of harsh treatment based on an employee’s disability, age, race, or other protected characteristic are also unlawful. However, workplace harassment laws do not protect employees from “mean-spirited” treatment by a supervisor that creates a hostile work environment unless the wrongful conduct is based on a characteristic protected under state or federal laws.
Protecting a Workplace Harassment Claim
The most important step to protect your rights under anti-harassment laws is to report the harassment. Employers generally have anti-harassment policies that indicate who should receive the complaint. If your employer does not have such a policy, you should report the harassment to the Human Resources department or a manager/supervisor. The report should be in writing and indicate the belief the conduct is based on your sex or other protected trait. Reporting hostile work environment harassment is important to protect your legal rights by alerting the employer of the conduct, so the employer has an opportunity to take appropriate remedial measures.
Texas and federal anti-harassment laws require you to exhaust administrative remedies before pursuing a lawsuit. Employees should file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Texas Workforce Commission if their employer does not adequately address a harassment complaint. When you are ready to file your complaint with the Texas labor board or the EEOC, FH Law Group has the legal experience and expertise to guide you through the administrative process and to provide effective representation in litigation.
Contact a Tarrant County Harassment Attorney
If you have been subject to workplace harassment, you might have a right to compensation. At Fulgham Hampton Law Group, we tenaciously pursue the rights of our clients in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas of Tarrant County. Contact us today for a FREE consultation at (817) 697-4400 or visit our website.
