Nashville Sexual Harassment Lawyer

Sexual Harassment Attorney in Nashville, TN

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, and a wide range of other verbal or physical conduct. This kind of harassment is unlawful conduct that no employee should have to endure in the workplace and can make any person’s life intolerable. If you have been harmed by sexual harassment in the workplace, contact Yezbak Law to have your case reviewed by an experienced Nashville sexual harassment lawyer.

Overview of Workplace Sexual Harassment in Tennessee

Federal and Tennessee law prohibits severe or pervasive sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment is one of the most common and difficult employment situations to navigate, especially when the harasser is your boss. You want to report the misconduct, but you are afraid of being fired or otherwise retaliated against. The law is on your side, and it’s time to fight back.

Common examples of workplace sexual harassment include:

• Invading of personal space including persistent leering or staring
• Frequent comments about your appearance/attractiveness
• Sexually explicit text messages or emails
• Sexual “jokes”, innuendos, “gag” gifts of a sexual nature
• Displaying sexual materials
• Solicitation of explicit pictures
• Repeated requests for a romantic date
• Asking about your sexual history
• Sexual coercion, such as threats or pressure for sexual favors
• Criminal sexual conduct including physical assault and rape
• Harassment based on your LGBTQ status

Two Types of Sexual Harassment Claims

The law recognizes two kinds of sexual harassment claims: (1) Quid Pro Quo and (2) Hostile Work Environment. You should consult with an experienced sexual harassment attorney in Tennessee to know your legal rights and understand your potential claims.

Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment

Quid pro quo (“this for that”) sexual harassment occurs when your job is dependent on your acceptance or rejection of unwelcome sexual advances.

Examples of “Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment” may include:

• Being offered a pay raise for sexual favors
• Receiving a demotion or less favorable work assignment after declining your supervisor’s date requests
• Being threatened with termination if you do not submit to your boss’s sexual advances

Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment

“Hostile work environment” sexual harassment occurs when an employee is subjected to unwelcome sexual advances, touching, or crude sexual language that is so severe or pervasive that a reasonable person in your position would consider your work environment intimidating, hostile, or abusive. Courts assess many factors in determining whether you experienced an abusive work environment, including:

• Frequency of the harassment – “pervasive” means the harassment occurred over a period of time and it negatively impacts your work life and emotional well-being. Hostile work environment claims usually fall under this “pervasive” prong.
• Severity of the harassment – even one-time incidents may be serious enough in situations of physical assault, rape, or being fired or demoted for rebuffing sexual advances from your boss.

Current Tennessee law protects Nashville employees and requires employers statewide to take sufficient and reasonable steps to confront and prevent sexually predatory or hostile behavior at their company.

If you think that you are in immediate danger of assault, call 911 as you would for any immanent physical threat. If you have been the victim of a sexual assault, please report it to law enforcement as soon as possible.

If you think you might have a sexual harassment claim, consult an experienced attorney as soon as possible. An employment attorney can investigate your claims, support you throughout the process, and provide reliable legal assistance. Having a compassionate attorney working for you can help make a significant difference in your experience of the legal process and in the outcome of your claim.

Consult A Knowledgeable Nashville Sexual Harassment Lawyer – Call Yezbak Law Offices

While Nashville maintains a high employment rate, sexual harassment is illegal and unwelcome at work. If you need help with sexual harassment at your workplace in Nashville, call Yezbak Law Offices right away.

If you need experienced and reliable help with your employment law matter, contact the team at Yezbak Law Offices to set up a confidential initial client consultation. There is no charge to have your materials reviewed by our legal team. If they see a path to victory for your case, they will discuss the options and give you an overview of the case process as well as a detailed review of the proposed representation agreement.

It is not possible, however, to meet with the attorneys as part of the intake process, because there isn’t enough time for the attorneys to spend time with everyone seeking representation, while also handling all of their current cases. Our intake team is trained to gather all the key information and documents that the attorneys need to review in order to determine whether the firm can invest the resources needed to produce the best outcome for your claims.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Nashville, TN Sexual Harassment Laws

My boss seems overly interested in my private life and has started asking about my dating life, and it’s making me uncomfortable. Should I report this as sexual harassment?

You should keep detailed notes as to the date, time, and content of the remarks, including direct quotes as closely as your memory will allow. You should also note whether anyone else was present or might have overheard the remarks. It might take a little while to see if the boss will drop it or if it develops in an inappropriate direction. Save any written or recorded comments. If the boss asks for a date or suggests that dating could help you at work, then you should file a complaint and provide the evidence that you have. Note that you should NOT say anything encouraging because that could undermine your complaint.

What Damages Can I Potentially Recover From My Nashville Hostile Work Environment Claim?

If you are a Nashville worker who’s experienced a hostile work environment, the amount you might be able to get for your damages typically depends on case-specific factors like whether you lost any wages because of the hostile work environment, whether you incurred out-of-pocket expenses, and whether you experienced emotional distress. An experienced local attorney can help discuss an estimate of the damages you might recover for your specific employment claim.

What Evidence Should I Gather To Prove a Hostile Work Environment in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, in order to prove a hostile work environment, it can be helpful to gather evidence that shows the offensive/intimidating conduct was sufficiently pervasive, happened often, and created a completely negative work environment, which impacted your ability to work effectively. You can bolster your claim by keeping copies of all complaints and any responses, gathering incident details and documentation. You will want to keep witness contact information, emails, text messages, or any other evidence supporting and solidifying your claim, but be careful not to violate any company rules, such as a policy against using your work email to forward items to your personal email account.

How Do I Report a Hostile Work Environment in Nashville?

To report a hostile work environment in Nashville, it’s important to file a complaint with your company’s Human Resources department or through your company’s reporting procedures, which are often outlined in your company handbook. Remember that not every complaint is a protected activity, so you have to specify the legally discriminatory or retaliatory reason that you see as the cause of the problems. If you don’t mention the legal basis for your protection, then your complaint won’t be protected against retaliation, including a retaliatory termination.

Always keep a copy of your communications about the problem. If your complaint is unsuccessful in stopping the inappropriate workplace behavior, you can file a discrimination charge against the company with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Seek out an employment attorney who can evaluate your specific situation. They may discuss pursuing legal action and next steps.

What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need if Someone Is Harassing Me at Work?

If you believe you’re experiencing harassment at work, it’s important to consult an employment lawyer with experience handling harassment claims. These cases are challenging for the employee and you should have an attorney who will vigorously represent your interests and fully prepare you for each step of the legal process.

An attorney can discuss your specific situation, discuss whether the harassment was unlawful, and provide legal advice.