There are legal protections for workers when it comes to sexual harassment no matter the size of the company where they work. For companies in Delaware and throughout the U.S. that have more than 15 employees, federal law mandates that employees be free from unwelcome sexual advances or other sexual conduct. For smaller companies, state law will provide protection for the employee.
Those who have experienced behavior that can be classified as sexual harassment have several legal options. Legal remedies begin with filing a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC will help try to negotiate a settlement if it is necessary and possible. If there is no settlement, then those who feel that they have been harassed can file a civil lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Harassment victims must attempt to end the behavior on their own either by informing the person who is engaging in the behavior that is unacceptable and offensive or by going to higher authorities in the company. While this is difficult, those who are harassers need to be informed that their behavior is beyond the norm in order for there to be legal remedies down the line. The law exists to protect those being harassed, but they must take certain steps to impact their own situation first.
An attorney may help someone in this situation document their claim since it is a key to presenting the most effective case in court. The attorney may help with strategies to make the offending behavior stop or to take legal action if the situation requires it. The average employee does not know the intricacies of sexual harassment law, but an attorney may assist with navigating this process since there are certain steps that must be followed to have grounds for a lawsuit.
