East Los Angeles Hostile Work Environment Lawyer

East Los Angeles hosts a thriving economy with many major sectors offering lucrative job opportunities, including high-end retail, finance, insurance, professional services, and manufacturing. Unfortunately, many people encounter all types of mistreatment and harassment at work, sometimes resulting in hostile work environments. If this has happened to you, an East Los Angeles hostile work environment lawyer at the Diefer Law Group can help.

Every employer in California has a responsibility to ensure that every employee has a safe workplace free from harassment and discrimination. Employers are required to enforce strict policies, not only preventing such actions but also addressing them when they arise. If you are subjected to a hostile work environment but your employer has failed to resolve the matter, you need to consult an attorney to determine the next steps you can take.

Sexual harassment is one of the most common ways for a hostile work environment to develop. Between fiscal years 2018 and 2021, the EEOC received 27,291 cases alleging sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is also more common in California than in most other states. A University of California San Diego study reported that in California, women experience sexual harassment 5% more, and men experience it 10% more than the national average.

Your East Los Angeles hostile work environment lawyer can help you gather the evidence you will need to build your case. This could include emails and other correspondence with coworkers and supervisors, as well as witness testimony from others at work who have seen the mistreatment you have experienced. Before you can file a civil lawsuit for a hostile work environment, you will need to submit your complaint to the EEOC for review.

The EEOC investigates claims of workplace harassment and discrimination throughout the United States and makes recommendations or initiates legal proceedings based on its findings. If your claim is approved, the EEOC is likely to send you a Notice of Right to Sue that allows you to proceed with a civil lawsuit. Your East Los Angeles hostile work environment lawyer can then assist you with this stage of your case.

Some people who suffer under hostile work environments are unable to perform at their highest level, resulting in diminished sales, commissions, or other losses. Some are forced to leave their jobs, resulting in lost income and benefits, and face increased out-of-pocket expenses for travel and medical expenses after losing employer health insurance.

It’s possible for the plaintiff in a hostile work environment lawsuit to claim compensation for their economic losses, and they can potentially recover compensation for their legal expenses as well. It is also possible for them to claim compensation for the emotional distress they have experienced, and their employer may be forced to pay liquidated damages. Your East Los Angeles hostile work environment lawyer can estimate the potential value of your case.

Employers can also face additional penalties in the form of heavy fines and compulsory implementation of new training and new policies that could be costly. Employers hit with EEOC complaints also face reputational damage as well as lost productivity from diminished employee morale. Ultimately, these cases can be very costly for employers in California.