Florida employees may have seen several major reports of large, well-known companies that failed to protect their workers against sexual harassment in the workplace. For example, scandals at Sterling Jewelers and Uber indicate that many companies do not have proper policies to control or prevent sexual harassment from occurring. If a company does have a policy and protocols in place, they are often for show and fail to actually protect the employees.
In many cases, the policies and procedures that are intended to protect the employee from sexual harassment instead protect the company. For example, companies may provide hotlines where employees can report sexual harassment but do not provide actual effective means to deal with the complaints when they are filed. Further, the internal processes can be used to hurt the employee further and make it difficult for them to seek resolutions that actually work. Some companies have gone so far as to use internal arbitration systems. This prevents employees from being able to hold the employer accountable through the legal system.
Ultimately, it is recommended that employers implement policies that are actually designed to protect their employees. Any and all sexual harassment allegations should be investigated, and offenders should be terminated, regardless of their status within the company.
If an employee was fired for reporting an incident of sexual harassment, a Boca Raton, Florida, attorney may assist with seeking compensation for the employee’s lost income and pain and suffering. The attorney may assist with gathering evidence that proves that another person was sexually harassing the employee and the company failed to resolve the issue or retaliated against the employee. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the case, the attorney may seek to recover wages that the employee is owed or to have the employee reinstated at their job.
