What Are the Two Main Categories Of Sexual Harassment Claims Recognized By California? 2025

Work is supposed to be a safe space for every employee, but that isn’t always the case. If you’re dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace, it’s critical to act quickly and appropriately to secure the compensation you’re owed. To do that, you must first understand the nuances of sexual harassment. For example, what are the two main categories of sexual harassment claims recognized by California?

Sexual Harassment in the California Workplace

Sexual harassment is a type of discrimination that is based on another person’s gender, gender identity or expression, sex, or sexual orientation. In California, employers with five or more employees must provide sexual harassment training.

Even with these policies in place, employees still experience sexual harassment in the workplace. What’s more, these incidents are reportedly five percent higher for women and 10 percent higher for men in California than the national average in recent years.

What’s more, sexual harassment is quite common but is severely underreported. Reports show that over 85 percent of sexual harassment victims don’t file a claim. This is often because the people affected are too afraid to pursue legal action. With approximately 19,553 people in California’s labor force, it’s important to give employees the most streamlined and stress-free avenue to report discrimination, like sexual harassment.

If you’re experiencing something like this, working with a sexual harassment attorney can be beneficial.

A lawyer can provide advice and guidance so you can be sure you’re navigating the claims process properly. To top it off, they can negotiate deals on your behalf with the other party when it comes to settling your case and represent you in court if things go awry.

Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment in California

Hostile work environment sexual harassment refers to situations where the acts of harassment interfere with a person’s day-to-day work. It’s important to note that this type of sexual harassment can affect the victim directly as well as bystanders who witness the harassment. Acts such as posting lewd images or saying inappropriate things can impact anyone who witnesses it.

Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment in California

The phrase quid pro quo translates from Latin to this for that. That said, quid pro quo sexual harassment refers to situations wherein one person requests sexual favors in return for some form of work benefit.

An example of quid pro quo sexual harassment would be a manager telling a lower-level employee that they can give them a more favorable shift in exchange for going on a date together.

Liable Parties for Sexual Harassment in California

When filing a sexual harassment claim, it’s possible you may be able to file against multiple parties depending on the type of sexual harassment and the details of your claim. For starters, you can always file against the harasser. In some cases, however, you may also be able to file against your employer for perpetuating a hostile work environment.

It’s important to understand the full scope of your rights when it comes to filing a sexual harassment claim, which is why it’s helpful to work with a California sexual harassment lawyer. Your attorney can help you identify liable parties and secure the maximum settlement amount.

What to Do If You Are Sexual Harassment in California

Facing sexual harassment in the workplace can be overwhelming and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be if you follow the proper steps. First, be sure to document as much of your experience as possible. Keep records of correspondence with the offender, take photos or videos, record proof of you trying to get the behavior to stop, and try to get witness statements, too.

From there, you can report the incident by using your company’s internal system in place for these types of incidents. If you’re uncomfortable doing this, or if you are unhappy with their response, you can file with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the California Civil Rights Department (CRD). You must do this within three years of the last incident. The CRD complaint process has specific documentation requirements but protects your right to take legal action.

FAQs About Sexual Harassment Law in California

What Are Some Examples of Sexual Harassment in California?

Sexual harassment in California can take on many forms and doesn’t even have to be driven by sexual desire. Behaviors that can be considered sexual harassment include displaying sexually suggestive images or objects, exchanging sexual favors for employment benefits, making derogatory comments, jokes, or slurs, leering, physically touching or assaulting someone, and more.

What Qualifies as Sexual Harassment in Lake Forest?

Sexual harassment in Lake Forest is a form of discrimination based on the sex or gender of a person in a professional or social setting. This includes harassment related to gender expression or identity, pregnancy and childbirth, or sexual orientation. People of any gender or gender identity can be victims of sexual harassment. These acts can negatively affect the victim as well as any bystanders. One form of sexual harassment is categorized as a hostile workplace environment, which essentially

What Are Some Examples of Protected Traits for Which I Can File a Sexual Harassment Case?

Sexual harassment refers to any inappropriate and unwanted sexual behaviors in the workplace or another professional or social situation. Under workplace discrimination laws, you can file a sexual harassment claim to protect against discrimination based on gender expression or identity, pregnancy or childbirth, sexual orientation, transgender status, and more.

Is it Easy to Prove Sexual Harassment in Lake Forest?

When you file a sexual harassment claim in California, you must prove it through a preponderance of evidence. Essentially, you must prove that it is more likely that the harassment occurred than that it did not. Many victims worry they don’t have enough evidence, but California courts understand harassment often occurs without witnesses. This involves collecting evidence such as photos, records, videos, witness statements, and more. A California sexual harassment lawyer can help you gather key pieces of evidence, interview witnesses, investigate on their own, and invalidate the prosecution’s claims to help prove your claim.

California Sexual Harassment Lawyer

Filing a sexual harassment claim can be a complicated and emotionally overwhelming process. Instead of trying to tackle it on your own, reach out to a California sexual harassment lawyer at the Law Offices of Corbett H. Williams. Our team has experience handling complex legal cases, and we’re ready to take on yours. Reach out to set up a consultation with one of our California