Sexual Harassment

Daniel Bright’s experienced NYC sexual harassment lawyers have successfully represented both men and and women in sexual harassment cases, including same-sex sexual harassment cases. If you believe you are being subjected to sexual harassment or a hostile work environment at your job, or have been retaliated against for objecting to sexual harassment at work, and you’d like to discuss your options with an employment attorney, contact our NYC sexual harassment lawyers.

Sexual harassment in the workplace generally comes in two forms: quid pro quo sexual harassment; or a sexually hostile work environment.

One type of sexual harassment, known as quid pro quo sexual harassment, typically occurs when a supervisor or manager tries to coerce an employee into having a romantic relationship or sexual relations, using the explicit or implicit threat of termination, reduced hours, less desirable work assignments, or other punitive measures to put pressure on the employee. It also happens when benefits or incentives – such as promotions, pay raises, or a more desirable shift or assignment – are offered in exchange for sexual or romantic favors or conditioned upon giving in to a boss’s improper and unwanted sexual or romantic demands.

The second type of sexual harassment occurs when employees are subjected to a sexually charged, hostile work environment. Employers have an obligation to protect their employees from unwanted, frequent exposure to pornography, or to sexually explicit comments, insults, discussions or jokes at work, and from unwanted sexual advances. Employees who are subjected to a sexually hostile work environment have the right to ask their employer to put an end to it, and are protected by employment discrimination laws from being retaliated against for complaining about sexual harassment or a hostile work environment.