San Diego Sexual Harassment Law

Sexual harassment creates difficult situations for all employees, but primarily for women in the workplace. Employers have long used their positions of power or authority to sexually harass their employees. Everyone has the right to feel safe at work and free from unwanted, sexual advances. The following are examples of sexually harassing conduct: sexual advances, sexual propositions, physical touching, staring, verbal remarks, displaying offensive materials, and pranks. 

1. Hostile Work Environment Harassment

This type of harassment occurs in situations where there is unwelcome sexual conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment. 

2. “Quid Pro Quo” Harassment  

This type of harassment occurs when a job or a job benefit is conditioned upon sexual favors. In the typical case, an employee is promised better treatment, such as a promotion, transfer, raise or favorable recommendation if the employee submits to sexual advances. It could also occur when a supervisor threatens an employee with termination, demotion, or loss of other job-related benefits if the employee does not agree to sexual favors. 

Although sexual harassment claims are most commonly brought by females against males, sexual harassment can also occur by females against males and by members of the same-sex.