Category: Sexual Harassment
What Constitutes Sexual Harassment at Work?
Everyone knows that sexual harassment is illegal. With the recent scandal coming out of UC Berkeley, the persistent problem of sexual harassment is once again on everyone’s radar. Yet many people aren’t sure of what exactly constitutes actionable sexual harassment. By definition, sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other…
Berkeley Allegations Highlight Sexual Harassment by Faculty
Three recent allegations by students against an Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley are only the latest in a series of scandals involving sexual harassment at the university over the past several years. All told, at least 141 allegations of sexual harassment against UC Berkeley faculty alone in the years between 2012 and 2015, prompted one…
My Boss Hit On Me, What Should I Do?
We all know that sexual harassment at the workplace is, by definition, illegal. But it is also the case that there is nothing inherently wrong with romances developing between co-workers. In fact, one survey found nearly one out of five couples meet through work, and even our current president met his wife when he was…
What You Can Learn From Kesha’s Sexual Harassment / Discrimination Lawsuit
If you’re a pop music fan, you’ve likely heard of the ongoing dispute between “Tik Tok” singer Kesha (formerly known as “Ke$ha”) and Dr. Luke, the man who produced Kesha’s hit albums and a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer for such world-famous artists like Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson. Kesha sued Dr. Luke in New York…
Harassment of Women: Holding Employers Accountable
Even in the 21st Century, women are still being harassed in the workplace at rates far greater than men. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports 6,822 charges of sexual harassment filed in 2015, and only 17.1% were filed by men. Employers have a legal obligation under state and federal law to prevent any form…
Harassed and Fired for Reporting Discrimination? You May Have a Retaliation Claim
There are numerous state and federal laws prohibiting certain kinds of harassment in the workplace. In most cases, enforcement of these laws depends upon the courage and willingness of harassed employees and their co-workers to stand up and report the violations to the authorities. But, so often employees are worried that, if they report a…