Sexual harassment in Florida takes different forms in the workplace and may be difficult to initially recognize. Some subtle examples of sexual harassment include pinups on the walls or in cubicles, requests for a coworker to go on a date, rude treatment of coworkers and verbal abuse. There may be comments about a person’s appearance or jokes that have a sexual nature.
Both federal and state laws prohibit sexual harassment, allowing employers to be held accountable once the behavior is reported. The laws are created to offer protection and provide rights to employees.
How to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
If employers want to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, they should have a policy against sexual harassment and regularly train each team to ensure they recognize the behavior and understand the forms it can take. There should also be a procedure in place that allows employees to anonymously report sexual harassment and ensure that an investigation is performed. It’s important for employers to restore any job benefits that were lost due to sexual harassment as well as document all types of investigations and what HR did to resolve the situation.
Who can you contact for legal assistance?
If you’ve experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, reach out to an attorney who has experience handling similar cases to review the details of the situation. An attorney may answer your questions and inform you of the law and your rights to ensure you know how to navigate the legal process. Your attorney may fight to help you obtain the compensation you deserve, possibly by settling with your employer outside of court to make it a more efficient process.
