Workplace sexual harassment can create emotional stress, affect your career, and make it difficult to feel safe at work. A trusted Seattle Sexual Harassment Lawyer at The Schauer Law Offices, PLLC is committed to protecting the rights of employees facing harassment, retaliation, and hostile work environments. Our legal team helps individuals pursue justice under Washington employment laws while working to hold employers and responsible parties accountable. Whether the harassment involves inappropriate comments, unwanted advances, discrimination, or retaliation after reporting misconduct, our Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Seattle team is prepared to guide you through the legal process.
What Is Workplace Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment includes unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. It may involve supervisors, coworkers, clients, or other individuals in the workplace. Employees are protected under both federal and Washington state employment laws.
Common Examples of Sexual Harassment
Our Seattle workplace harassment lawyers handles many types of workplace harassment claims, including:
- Unwanted sexual advances
- Inappropriate touching or physical conduct
- Offensive comments or jokes
- Requests for sexual favors
- Harassing emails or messages
- Retaliation after reporting harassment
- Hostile work environment claims
Providing aggressive representation and supportive counsel
Sexual harassment is an assault on a person’s dignity and worth. It can be emotionally scarring and even physically debilitating. Despite efforts to eliminate sexual harassment from the workplace, offending behavior continues and victims seek recourse through the law. If you believe you have been a victim of sexual harassment, Our Seattle sexual harassment lawyer at The Schauer Law Offices, PLLC is here to help. Attorney Jason Schauer has more than 12 years of experience litigating cases and negotiating settlements.
Understanding sexual harassment and the law
Sexual harassment is recognized as a form of discrimination outlawed by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It exists when unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature are linked to employment or career advancement, or simply make one’s job intolerable.
Quid pro quo
The first and most overt type of sexual harassment exists when a person’s employment or career advancement actually depends upon submission to a superior’s sexual overtures. This quid pro quo (this for that) exchange can be explicitly stated or merely implied by the overall circumstances.
Hostile work environment
This type of sexual harassment is found in workplaces where unwanted sexual conduct unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment. When a worker hates being on the job because of the sexual conduct she must see, hear or suffer, she may very well have a case for sexual harassment.
The unwelcome question
The sticking point for all sexual harassment claims is that the conduct must be unwelcome. Office flirtations and romances, even between a worker and a supervisor, are not harassment when they are fully consensual. Therefore, it is important for a victim to take reasonable steps to establish his or her objection to the behavior.
Same-sex sexual harassment
Sexual harassment does not have to be between members of opposite sexes. Cases of same-sex harassment are prevalent, and it is not necessary to prove a homosexual orientation in the harasser.
Why Hire a Seattle Sexual Harassment Lawyer?
Employment law cases can be complex, and employers often have experienced legal representation. A skilled Seattle employment harassment attorney can help protect your interests, build a strong case, and pursue compensation or corrective action for workplace misconduct.
Remedies to compensate and restore victims
Victims who prove sexual harassment may collect damages, including:
- Back pay — for wages, salary and fringe benefits that the victim would have received from the point at which she or he was denied employment or promotion up to the date of the trial
- Compensatory damages — for emotional distress, pain and suffering, mental anguish, etc.
- Attorneys’ fees — at the court’s discretion, to the prevailing party
- Punitive damages — limited to cases in which the employer’s behavior was intentional, with malice or reckless indifference toward the victim
- Front pay — compensation for anticipated future losses in cases where reinstatement is not practical
Injunctive relief, including reinstating a fired employee or ordering the employer to change policies and practices that allowed the harassment to occur, is also available.
Contact an employment attorney for your sexual harassment claim
Call The Schauer Law Offices, PLLC at 206-420-7112 or contact the firm online to schedule your free initial consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies as workplace sexual harassment in Seattle?
Workplace sexual harassment in Seattle includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for favors, or offensive conduct that creates a hostile work environment. It can be verbal, physical, or visual. Both quid pro quo harassment and hostile workplace harassment are illegal under Washington State and federal laws.
How do I report sexual harassment at work in Washington?
Report harassment to your employer through HR or a supervisor following company policy. You can also file a complaint with the Washington State Human Rights Commission or the EEOC. Document incidents carefully. Consulting an experienced attorney like Jason H. Schauer can help protect your rights.
Can I sue my employer for sexual harassment?
Yes, you can sue your employer if they failed to prevent or address harassment. Before filing a lawsuit, you typically must file a claim with the EEOC or state agency. A Experienced Seattle sexual harassment attorney can guide you through deadlines and legal requirements.
What evidence is needed to prove a harassment claim?
Strong evidence includes emails, text messages, witness statements, performance reviews, and personal notes documenting incidents. Consistent records showing a pattern of behavior help strengthen your claim. An attorney can help gather and present evidence effectively.
What compensation can victims of sexual harassment receive?
Victims may receive compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, medical expenses, and attorney fees. In some cases, reinstatement or policy changes may also be ordered. A skilled lawyer can help maximize your recovery based on your situation.