Workplace Sexual Advances on Long Island

Dedicated Long Island Lawyers for Workplace Sexual Advances

Long Island is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of 4 counties. As of 2020, it had a diverse population of 8,063,232. It is one of the most densely populated regions in the country, which makes up around 40% of the State of New York. The area is also home to some of the wealthiest communities in the country. As of 2020, there were 48,270 in Nassau County and 49,173 in Suffolk County. Sexual harassment can be humiliating and degrading for the worker who is targeted, as well as his or her coworkers. Workplace sexual advances are unlawful in Long Island under the New York State Human Rights Law, as well as federal and local laws. If you were harmed by workplace sexual advances, you should call the trusted Long Island sexual harassment attorneys of Phillips & Associates. We seek the best results for clients and have negotiated and won millions for workers who have been subject to sexual advances in the workplace.

Discuss Whether You Have a Sexual Harassment Lawsuit with Phillips & Associates

Workplace sexual advances that may be actionable through a sexual harassment lawsuit include unwanted physical touching, back rubs, accidental brushes, rape, sexual battery, molestation, making sexually explicit statements, unwelcome sexual propositions, talking about sex acts, sexual offers, threats to reduce hours or benefits if sex isn’t given, loss of job or other adverse effects, sexually oriented gestures, or blocking someone’s movements. If you were subject to any of these behaviors on the job in Long Island, you may have a claim.

It’s important to consult experienced sexual harassment attorneys who have negotiated settlements and won in court as soon as you realize you may have been subject to sexual harassment. The time frame within which to bring a claim is limited under the relevant laws: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the New York State Human Rights, and the New York City Human Rights Law. Under Title VII, which applies only to those workplaces that have at least 15 employees, our attorneys will also need to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within a short window of time before bringing a lawsuit.

Workplace Sexual Advances

Workplace sexual advances are unlawful when perpetrated by either sex, on victims of either sex, including same-sex victims. They may be categorized as quid pro quo harassment or hostile work environment harassment. Generally, advances constitute quid pro quo harassment if perpetrated by an authority figure in the workplace—a manager, supervisor, or company officer—who condition employment decisions, like promotions or not getting fired, on submitting to the advance. For example, if your Long Island manager threatens to fire you if you don’t sleep with him, this would be quid pro quo harassment.

Under Title VII, hostile work environment harassment encompasses any kind of offensive behavior that is so severe or pervasive it changes the terms and conditions of your job. However, as of October 11, 2019, the New York State Human Rights law, which covers all employers, regardless of their size, bars any harassing conduct that is more than petty slights or trivial inconvenience. In our state, it is unlawful for your employer to impose inferior terms, conditions or privileges of employment based on your sex no matter how big or small a business it is.

Additionally, in 2018, the state law was expanded to include nonemployees like independent contractors, consultants, and vendors in its antidiscrimination and antiharassment provisions. If, for example, your client touches you inappropriately during dinner, this may be a workplace sexual advance claim, even though he is a client, and you are working on an independent contractor. Similarly, if you provide supplies to a big corporation on Long Island and the corporation’s CEO propositions you, you may have a claim for sexual harassment.

Consult a Sexual Harassment Lawyer About Workplace Sexual Advances

At Phillips & Associates, we understand how painful and difficult it is to be sexually harassed. Our tenacious lawyers represent workers who have faced unwelcome sexual advances in Long Island workplaces. If you were harmed in this way, give the trusted employment discrimination lawyers of Phillips & Associates a call at (866) 229-9441 or complete our online form. We represent workers on a contingency fee basis and offer free consultations.