California Sexual Harassment, and Workplace Discrimination Complainants

At Southwest College, Irvin was responsible for overseeing the budget and staffing for one of Turner-Odom’s big campus projects, an initiative to help students who are parents succeed in school. Alberto Román, the district’s former vice chancellor of human resources, was questioned during the trial about how Irvin secured the position at Southwest despite his past. He served as a Los Angeles police officer for 13 years beginning in 1985.
$15.50 per hour for workers at businesses with 26 or more employees. There are several reasons why it is usually a good idea to attempt to resolve instances of workplace harassment through your employer first. The first thing an employee experiencing harassment should do is to inform their employer. What this means is that in any type of business dispute, a business owner must be represented by an experienced business attorney who knows how to resolve complicated disputes while making your long-term best interests the highest priority. In the Oakland area, business owners consistently turn to Geonetta & Frucht.

If the conduct is over email or text messages, keep those in a safe place. If these interactions are in-person, keep a journal of everything that happens between you and the harasser. It’s necessary to determine precisely how the conduct was reported. Most organizations have policies and procedures documented that outline how employees should handle these types of harassment. Your lawyer will ask for any sort of documentation you may have to support your claim (e-mails, text messages, notes, witnesses). They can be held directly responsible for the behaviors and actions of the managers and supervisors they employ, as well as other employees in some circumstances.
In addition, various California counties have ordinances prohibiting employment discrimination based on other factors, such as weight and height. Though before suing, you are advised to consult with a labor attorney. If you are the victim of a CEPA violation, we can file a complaint with the Labor Commissioner or sue your employer in pursuit of twice your back wages. Though H-1B visa holders are protected by the same labor protections as any other California employee. As well as by numerous other rules and regulations surrounding the visa program.

Do you feel uncomfortable in the workplace because of sexual harassment? No matter how much you love your job, you should NOT have to deal with that. This type of behavior can present itself in a wide range of circumstances. The harassment can come from a supervisor, a co-worker, or even an individual from outside the organization, like a customer or a vendor.
When analyzing an allegation, many courts rely  on the fact patterns of prior cases. These examples can help clarify where courts draw the line in determining whether conduct is unlawful. In other words, the genders of both the harasser and the victim are irrelevant. The only question is whether the underlying conduct is violated the law.
All California employers must abide by minimum wage laws and provide you with stipulated meal breaks and rest breaks. Though there are exceptions to at-will employment in California law. If your employer fires you in violation of an implied contract or in violation of public policy, you may have the right to compensation.

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing is the state agency tasked with enforcing California’s workplace anti-discrimination law, known as the Fair Employment and Housing Act . Both figures reflected a significant rise in the number of such complaints from 2016, though it is unclear whether that reflects an increase in unlawful conduct or merely a more assertive reporting of that behavior. The disturbing accounts of the former female employees are outlined in two demand letters that were sent to Oakland mayor, city council, and the city attorney’s office. They describe a toxic culture within the DVP involving sexual harassment, gender discrimination, unequal pay, and retaliation. One of the letters, names and accuses several city employees of perpetuating a hostile work environment and a female deputy chief of mistreating and discriminating against Black women staffers.
If this doesn’t work, seek help from your employer and/or human resources office. Your employee handbook should have guidelines for how to file an official sexual harassment complaint within the company. The Law Offices of Michael C. Cohen caters to individuals in the Oakland metro.

Sometimes the answer is "not yet." If you are being harassed by a co-worker but you have not notified your employer, you might not have a case yet. Under California law, an employer is not automatically liable for harassment by one of its employees, unless the harasser is a supervisor. If the person who's harassing you is a co-worker, not a supervisor, you should notify your employer--in writing.
The definition of sexual harassment is broad and covers a wide variety of behavior. While rape or any type of unwelcome sexual touching is considered sexual harassment, the behavior does not have to be that severe to rise to the level of sexual harassment. A thorough investigation of harassment allegations may be the most important step an employer can take when an employee complains of workplace harassment.
Our compassionate lawyers will help you with your harassment or assault claim. In the aftermath of a life-altering injury caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless actions, you and the people you love face many challenges. You will face a grueling recovery process with no guarantee of living the life you once lived. In addition, you will need significant financial resources to compensate you for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Julia Wobbe is a tenant lawyer with Tobener Ravenscroft LLP. She serves clients in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Fremont, San Rafael, Berkeley and surrounding Bay Area cities.

If you’re involved in such a situation, come to Winer, Burritt & Scott, LLP, for one-on-one legal services. Our sexual harassment attorneys in California are passionate about preserving the rights of workers to a safe, fair, and productive work environment. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Y. Price is a graduate of Yale College and UC Berkeley Law School, and a survivor of the Ohio juvenile justice and foster care systems. Before being elected District Attorney in 2022, she trail-blazed a career fighting for justice for everyday people in state and federal courts.