When you consider that on any given day, there are around 234,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau, you realize that sex crimes are a serious issue in this country. This means the potential to be a victim of any kind of sex crimes is worth being concerned about. Among these sex crimes, sexual harassment stands out as a problem in the workplace. There are sexual harassment lawyers in Springfield, MA who represent those who have been victimized by sexual harassment in the workplace.
What constitutes sexual harassment in the workplace? It includes everything such as requests for sexual favors, discrimination because of sexual orientation, retaliation because the victim refuses to submit to sexual advances, and various forms of sexual contact. Sexual contact could be the act of intercourse, or it could merely be touching. In fact, even a person makes sexually offensive comments, that is also called sexual harassment. In light of all of these scenarios, it is possible that you have been or are in a sexual harassment situation. You have a right to protest and get help.
Massachusetts has strict policies regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. Two types of situations create sexual harassing circumstances: quid pro quo and hostile work environments. Briefly stating, the first occurs when a supervising employee (or one who exercises some sort of control over another employee’s work status) offers to give some sort of benefit to another employee in exchange for sexual favors. On the flip side, because the other employee refuses to submit to sexual favors, the work situation may be affected. This includes anything such as demotion, decrease in work hours or even termination. This easily spills over into a hostile work environment.
The Law Office of Michael O. Shea is a top choice for sexual harassment lawyers in Springfield, MA. His law firm has been providing solutions for employment law situations, including sexual harassment suits and employment discrimination for over 25 years in the Springfield, MA area. If you feel that you are a victim in a possible sexual harassment situation, do not hesitate to do something about it. Every person has the right to feel safe in his or her work environment.
