How to File a Harassment Claim

Harassment Attorney Explains How To File A Harassment Claim

Harassment is a very serious issue in the workplace, and it can cause serious distress and make work feel unsafe. Hostile work environments, intimidating or offensive workplaces should not be tolerated, and victims of harassment can take legal action to defend themselves. There are many forms of workplace harassment, and they can all be emotionally and physically damaging.

Over the past several decades, our employment law firm has helped clients recover multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements from coworkers at fault for harassment and from companies that allowed harassment at work to occur. Our harassment attorneys provide all California workers free legal consultations, so they may learn their rights under harassment laws. Our lawyers for harassment lawsuits also provide this short overview about filing a claim for workplace harassment in California.

How to File a Harassment Claim in California

If you feel harassed at work, including sexual harassment or otherwise, you may file a discrimination complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) within one year of the incident. Keep a detailed record about potential harassment at work and make a note of when each incident occurred.

DFEH must then investigate your claim and attempt to resolve the issue. If DFEH is able to find evidence that harassment occurred and any efforts to settle the matter do not work, the harasser and employer may receive a formal accusation of harassment. This may result in a public hearing or lawsuit, and if the defendant is found guilty of harassment, DFEH can order charged employers or harassers to pay up to $150,000 in fines and damages for emotional distress. For some harassment claims, the court may order unlimited damages greater than this amount.

The DFEH maintains a website that allows you to submit complaints online. However, you should speak with an employment attorney first. Your employment attorney who handles harassment claims can guide you through this process, from talking to the DFEH investigator about the claim to representing your harassment lawsuit in civil court.

Questions about Workplace Harassment? Free Attorney Consultation

A victim has the right to file a harassment claim against an alleged offender, and employers have a responsibility to minimize harassment in the workplace. If you are a victim of harassment at work, you can file a claim to ensure your employer and the harasser understand that this behavior cannot be tolerated.

Each harassment attorney at our firm has several years of experience only focusing on employment law matters. Our combined experience means that we have successfully assisted workers in situations similar to yours and have the legal resources to be successful again. If you feel workplace harassment has affected you, contact an employment attorney at Glaser Labor Law today by calling (310) 803-9886 to schedule a no cost, no obligation attorney consultation.