What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is harassment or unwelcome attention of a sexual nature. It includes a range of behavior from mild transgressions and annoyances to serious abuses, which can even involve forced sexual activity. Approximately 15,000 sexual harassment cases are brought to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) each year. Media and government surveys estimate the percentage of women being sexually harassed in the U.S. workplace at 40% to 60%. While the majority of sexual harassment complaints come from women, the number of complaints filed by men is rapidly increasing. In 2004, over 15% of EEOC complaints were filed by men with 11% of claims involving men filing against female supervisors.
Sexual harassment under Texas and Federal law is generally defined as unwanted sexual contact of two main types: (a) quid pro quo harassment which occurs when employment is conditioned on the submission to unwelcome sexual advances, or (b) unwelcome sexual conduct that was severe or pervasive enough to create an abusive environment for the employee.
Sexual harassment and retaliation are serious violations of the law and at The McKinney Law Firm we take them seriously. No one should have to work under the cloud of sexual harassment and it is our mission to help you fight it. If you are currently being or have been subjected to sexual harassment you need to take appropriate steps to protect yourself.