Search
Close this search box.

Call Us 619-342-8000

referrals

Sexual Harassment

Legal Woes of Valentine’s Day in the Workplace

by

On February 14, 2016, the day of romance is bestowed upon us. While the precise origins of Valentine’s Day, also known as Saint Valentine’s Day, remain murky, February 14 has become synonymous with romantic love.  The day is celebrated with the exchange of candy, flowers, gifts and cards between loved ones.

While love is in the air and love should be celebrated, when cupid makes an appearance in the office it can quickly translate into awkwardness, unprofessionalism, and even unlawful harassment and discrimination.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, it would be wise to think twice before using the day as an excuse to be a little more forward with a co-worker or more open about your love life.  For example, in Johnson v. West, a supervisor’s Valentine’s Day card that expressed the supervisor’s love for a subordinate employee, signed “Happy Valentine’s Day, Sweetheart,” was the straw that broke the camel’s back that culminated into a sexual harassment lawsuit by the employee against the supervisor and employer.  Below is a list of do’s and don’ts to keep things joyous, yet professional.

The Don’ts

Do not give gifts to one coworker and not others.  Singling out a select employee (or select group of employees) can turn out disastrous with missed expectations, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings.  If you are giving something to one, give it to all, or else the question of favoritism or unfair treatment is likely to make an appearance.  When the question of unfair treatment is raised, particularly when the gifts or treatment are associated with a day of romance, the basis of the unfair treatment is much more easily tied to a legally protected characteristic, such as gender or sex.  This in turn can equate to legal problems.

Do not give co-workers expensive or inappropriate gifts. This is particularly problematic when supervisors purchase expensive or inappropriate gifts for subordinates. Giving extravagant gifts can be viewed in a many different ways, including the not so good ways associated with sexual favoritism.

Valentine’s Day is not a justification for inappropriate behavior.  While Valentine’s Day should be celebrated, do not be over-zealous in your celebrating.  Being overly affectionate with co-workers may not only make them uncomfortable, but it could be viewed as flirting and, depending on the nature of the conduct, it could constitute harassment.

Do not allow your emotions to openly run wild. Valentine’s Day does not grant you a free license to express your emotions or opinions about your relationship or the relationships of others. Nor does the day give you free reign to act on the emotional attraction toward someone you may have had pent up inside you for the last year. Such conduct, while in appropriate cases could be welcomed, could be received as anything from inappropriate to harassment.

Do not share the details of your love life with co-workers.  As with the other “no no’s”, Valentine’s Day does not open the door to sharing the spicy details of your love life with co-workers. Even if you are close with your co-workers, the office is not the appropriate place to be discussing such details.

The Do’s

Do wish your co-workers a happy Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day has become of a day of celebration of love and sharing your love for those around you and for the work you do should not be viewed as per se taboo.  Wishing your colleagues a heart-felt Happy Valentine’s Day is appropriate, as long as the love is spread evenly and appropriately.

Bring small, inexpensive gifts or treats, such as cookies, for everyone in the office to share. Cookies, small treats, or desserts are a great way to show co-workers you care about them, without crossing the gray line of what could constitute inappropriate conduct.

Treat your employees to a company-wide dinner or other activity.  Showing your employees you appreciate them for everything they do for your company should be celebrated. Organizing a company-wide dinner or other activity is a great way to show appreciation for all employees, without implications of showing unfair treatment.

Use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to share what you love about your job.  Focus not on the romantic components of a relationship with co-workers, but focus on their work. Share with co-workers what you believe to be their positive attributes as they relate to their job.  As always, keep it professional.

For more information about your legal rights in the workplace or if you have any questions or concerns about your job, please do not hesitate to contact an attorney at Zeldes Haeggquist & Eck, LLP.

To schedule your free initial consultation, contact us online or call (619) 342-8000 today!

Supervisors Can Be Liable for Harassment and Retaliation

by

In California, employers aren’t the only ones who face liability for harassment, including sexual harassment, and retaliation in the workplace. Individual supervisors are also liable for their own harassment and retaliation against employees.

Who Is Considered a Supervisor?

The law regarding sexual harassment makes employers strictly liable for sexual harassment committed by a supervisor. Therefore, it is important for employers, supervisors, and employees to understand who is considered a supervisor under the law.

The Fair Employment and Housing Act defines “supervisor” as “any individual having the authority to:

  • Hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline other employees
  • Direct them, adjust their grievances, or effectively to recommend a course of action based on their independent judgment.

Essentially, a supervisor is an employee who has the authority to make decisions on behalf of his or her employer relating to hiring, firing, promotions, rewards, and discipline. If a supervisor knew or should have known about harassment but failed to take actions to correct it, the employer can also be held liable.

Can Supervisors Be Held Personally Liable?

Depending on the case, an employee of a company can hold personal liability for acts of harassment, discrimination or retaliation. In addition to a supervisor’s personal liability, the employer is usually held liable for misconduct as well.

Your Right To Report Harassment and Discrimination

Under the law, you have a right to report workplace misconduct such as harassment or discrimination, and participate in workplace investigations of such conduct without fear of retaliation. If an employer or supervisor is making threats or engaging in retaliatory acts against you, contact an employment attorney immediately.

To schedule your free initial consultation, contact us online or call (619) 342-8000 today!

Men Can Be Victims Of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

by

In a common sexual harassment scenario, a male supervisor sexually harasses a female subordinate by making sexually explicit comments, touching her inappropriately, or engaging in other harassing behavior. But sexual harassment isn’t just a “women’s issue.” Men are frequently victims of sexual harassment in the workplace, and California and federal law protect men and women from sexual harassment equally.

In a federal sexual harassment case brought under Title VII, the federal law which protects employees from sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal found that men can be victims of sexual harassment. “It cannot be assumed that because a man receives sexual advances from a woman that those advances are welcome … whether one person welcomes another’s sexual proposition depends on the invitee’s individual circumstances and feelings. Title VII is not a beauty contest, and even if [the sexual harasser] looks like Marilyn Monroe” the victim might not be receptive to sexual advances in the workplace. EEOC v. Prospect Airport Services, 621 F.3d 991, 997 (2010).

In the Prospect case, a male employee was sexually harassed by his female co-worker. The female co-worker sent the plaintiff a series of love notes which ranged from merely flirtatious to sexually explicit. Despite the plaintiff repeatedly telling the harasser that he was not interested in her romantically, the harasser escalated her efforts, giving the plaintiff a semi-nude photograph of herself, and recruiting co-workers to pressure the plaintiff to go out with the harasser. The plaintiff was embarrassed and hurt by the harasser’s actions, and complained several times to several different managers, all of whom did not reprimand or discipline the harasser. Incredibly, one of the managers told the plaintiff he should feel flattered and sing to himself “I’m too sexy for my shirt.” Other co-workers began speculating that the plaintiff wasn’t interested in the harasser because he was a homosexual.

As a result of the sexual harassment, the plaintiff’s work performance suffered and he began seeing a psychologist. After failing to stop the harasser from sexually harassing the plaintiff, the defendant company terminated the plaintiff’s employment for performance issues. The Ninth Circuit found that the company was liable for the female sexual harasser’s behavior because “[m]en, as well as women, are entitled under Title VII to protection from a sexually abusive work environment … [and] the company knowingly denied [the plaintiff] protection.”

If you have been a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, call Zeldes Haeggquist & Eck, LLP for a free case evaluation at (619) 342-8000 or contact us online.

California Law Protects Victims Of Same-Sex Sexual Harassment

by

It is a common misconception that sexual harassment in the workplace only occurs between men and women. In California, same-sex and opposite-sex sexual harassment are equally prohibited under the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Government Code §12940 et seq.

A recent case, Lewis v. City of Benicia, illustrates this point. The employee, Brian Lewis, was a heterosexual male who worked for the City of Benicia’s water treatment plant. In his lawsuit, Lewis alleged that his male supervisor sexually harassed him. The trial court ruled against Lewis, and in favor of the supervisor, finding that the supervisor’s conduct did not constitute sexual harassment.

The Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s decision, and ruled in favor of Lewis, holding that a jury could find that the supervisor engaged in sexual harassment. The Court noted that an employee claiming sexual harassment must show he suffered discrimination because of sex. Employees can prove discrimination in any number of ways. Evidence of sexual harassment may exist where the harasser actually proposes sexual activity to the victim. Sexual harassment, however, does not need to be motivated by sexual desire. A jury or judge may find evidence of sexual harassment where the harasser’s words and action reflect hostility to the presence of women (or men) in the workplace. The court noted that “same-gender harassment consisting of sexual comments designed to humiliate the plaintiff and challenge his gender identity constitutes harassment because of sex…”

In this case, the court found Lewis was able to prove discrimination on the basis of sex by showing that his supervisor’s behavior towards him was motivated by sexual interest. Lewis’ supervisor gave him about 30 gifts during a seven-month period, including wine, shot glasses, clothes, and “tuxedo underwear” with ruffles and a bow tie; gifts which Lewis neither wanted nor used. The supervisor frequently paid for Lewis’ lunch as well. The supervisor also showed Lewis pornography on his computer during working hours and told him sexually explicit jokes that made Lewis uncomfortable. The supervisor told Lewis that he should visit his home, and asked “Why don’t you just kiss me?” The court found that a reasonable jury could find that the supervisor engaged in sexual harassment.

If you have been sexually harassed in the workplace, you may have a case against your employer. To schedule your free initial consultation, contact us online or call (619) 342-8000 today!

We Stand For JUSTICE,

that means we…

  • Just Do the Right Thing
  • Uplift With Passion and Positivity
  • Succeed Through Teamwork
  • Take Ownership for Our Work
  • Instill Excellence in All We Do
  • Care for Our Clients First
  • Evolve Every Day

Stay

CONNECTED

Call Us Now For Your Free,
No-Obligation Case Evaluation

Tell Us Your Story
Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon
Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon
Translate »

Call Us 619-342-8000

English