Sexual Harassment

You may feel embarrassed and degraded after being sexually harassed. Often victims of sexual harassment ruminate over what happened to them. You may be able to recover compensation through a sexual harassment lawsuit. It is important to talk to an experienced attorney about your situation. If you were sexually harassed in a Washington, D.C. workplace, you should call Washington, D.C. sexual harassment lawyer Matthew T. Famiglietti. Mr. Famiglietti has the experience to look at the facts and determine whether you have a viable basis to sue.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the District of Columbia Human Rights Act. It can be perpetrated by someone of either sex. It can also be perpetrated by those of any gender identity or sexual orientation, whether or not they share an identity with the victim. For example, if your supervisor is a woman who makes lewd remarks and jokes and emails workers clips of porn regularly, you could make a claim for sexual harassment, even if you are also a woman. In many cases, sexual harassment is motivated not by desire, but by power.

Workplace sexual harassment involves negative remarks or conduct arising out of an employee’s sex. Harassment may involve sexual assault, threats, violence jokes, pranks, graphics, memes, and derogatory comments. Discuss your rights with a sexual harassment attorney in Washington, D.C. For example, if your employer sends you crude memes and touches you inappropriately while you are sitting in your cubicle, you may have a claim for sexual harassment. Similarly, if your coworkers make jokes about parts of your body and use slurs, you may be able to bring a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Courts often divide sexual harassment into two categories: quid pro quo and hostile work environment harassment. Quid pro quo harassment is a form of harassment in which the harasser is in an authority position in the workplace and tries to trade on this authority to get sexual favors from an employee. For example, if your boss tells you that you need to have sex with him or lose your job, this would be quid pro quo harassment. A hostile work environment occurs when harassing behavior is so severe or pervasive it creates an abusive environment. For example, if you are an administrative assistant and the hedge fund managers you work with repeatedly grab you and make crude gestures, the court is likely to view this as sexual harassment. Learn more about quid pro quo and hostile work environment harassment from a sexual harassment lawyer serving clients in Washington, D.C.

You can file your sexual harassment claim with the agency that enforces the District’s anti-discrimination law, the Washington, D.C. Office of Human Rights (OHR). It covers employers of all sizes in Washington, D.C., including those with only one employee. You need to file an OHR complaint within one year of the date you believe you were discriminated against in order to have OHR process your claim. However, it is not mandatory that you file a claim with the OHR before suing for sexual harassment, and it may be better that you do not; you should talk to an attorney.

Alternatively, you can file a sexual harassment claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Only those employers that have at least fifteen employees are covered by Title VII. Additionally, Title VII caps damages based on the size of the employer. In most cases, there is greater relief to be found under the Washington, D.C. Human Rights Act.

The federal and local agencies have a work-sharing agreement, which means they cooperate to process sexual harassment and other claims, and you only need to file with one and indicate you want to cross-file with the other.

Sexual harassment in the workplace can be painful. It can damage your job or career. If you are concerned about sexual harassment in Washington, D.C., you should discuss your situation with experienced lawyer Matthew T. Famiglietti. Mr. Famiglietti is committed to representing workers in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. He represents federal employees, among others. Complete our online form or call the Law Office of Matthew T. Famiglietti at (202) 669-5880.

Please note, there is a consultation fee for any calls related to this practice area.