No one should be required to work in an environment where the behavior of their coworkers, supervisor, or both makes them feel uncomfortable. California labor laws prohibit employers from cultivating hostile work environments or allowing work environments to remain hostile when employees are mistreating each other.
Unfortunately, not all employers abide by these laws. Workers can take legal action in these circumstances.
Do you believe you are working in or have worked in an unreasonably hostile work environment? If so, an experienced Thousand Oaks, California hostile work environment attorney at The Kaufman Law Firm will review your case, discuss your legal options, and provide effective representation if you decide to file a claim or lawsuit.
A hostile work environment can take a variety of forms. Generally, under California law, a work environment may qualify as hostile if it is one in which an employee or multiple employees are subject to any form of harassment to a degree that renders the environment abusive.
Typically, in hostile work environment cases, a victim will be harassed because they belong to a protected group or a protected category applies to them. Protected groups and categories in California include the following:
Contact our Thousand Oaks hostile work environment law firm if you have been repeatedly and/or severely harassed at work. We will help you put a stop to the mistreatment and recover any compensation you may deserve.
Taking certain steps when you realize your work environment is hostile can potentially help you address the problem. It might also optimize your chances of winning a case against your employer.
These steps include the following:
Whenever possible, document instances of harassment you have experienced or witnessed.
This can be relatively easy if you receive harassing emails or voicemail messages from coworkers or a supervisor. However, it’s likely that harassment involves cruel verbal comments and other forms of mistreatment.
While you may not be able to record and save these instances of harassment, the way you could save an email, you can at least keep a written log in which you track when instances of harassment occurred and what they involved.
Refer to your employee handbook or a similar resource to learn about the process of reporting a hostile work environment to HR. Although HR’s response to your complaint may be insufficient to address the problem, when you take legal action later, it will be helpful to show the issue was serious enough to warrant filing a complaint.
Don’t assume HR will thoroughly protect your rights when you report harassment. Although taking this step is wise for the purposes of documenting your concerns, after getting in touch with HR, you should also strongly consider reviewing your case with a Thousand Oaks hostile work environment lawyer. At The Kaufman Law Firm, we have the experience necessary to help you see that justice is served. Learn more about how we can help by contacting us online or calling us at 818-990-1999.
Your job is more than just a source of income. It is a major part of your lifestyle. If you have been the victim of wrongful termination, wrongful demotion or any kind of discriminatory business practices, it is time to take action and contact a Ventura employment law attorney that can help. Attorney Matthew A. Kaufman and the team at The Kaufman Law Firm bring experience and a vast arsenal of legal resources to help clients recover the money they deserve.
To learn more, contact our Westlake Village law office today and schedule an initial evaluation to discuss your case.