Legal Question in Sexual Harassment in Illinois
sexual harrasment in the work place
I have been working for a company for 11 years and have been promoted a few times and currently hold a manager position. we have had some changes in managemnt and this new head has been appointed. He started off really mean and curt to the staff but nice to me. he then later proceeded with invitations to drinks that I got out of with excuses but then he started making sexual remarks and hand gestures that make me very uncomfortable to a point that it scares me to be around him. It is effecting my work and my health... I do not have any faith in our HR department and also need my job to support my family. I dont know what to do, ever since he took notice that I do not appreciate his behaviour he has been very unprofessional and is making my life at work really hard so i would quit .. please help
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: sexual harrasment in the work place
Title VII prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace. From what you describe, you may have a case. Please feel free to contact my office for a free consultation.
Jeff Friedman
Re: sexual harrasment in the work place
I am very sorry that you have to go through this. There are no easy solutions here. From your message it is very clear that this is a serious sexual harassment issue and it isn't going to go away unless you do something about it. You need to report it to HR. Under Title VII and the Illinois Human Rights Act you can't be retaliated against because you complained of sexual harassment. This means you can't be disciplined, fired, demoted etc. if you complain.
Now, I tell this to clients all the time and they tell me that they don't think this will protect them. And to be honest, it might not. However, from what you have stated above the situation seems to be getting worse and not better and at least this approach gives you legal protection and might take care of the situation.
Hopefully, HR will respond by investigating and taking action and the problem will cease. If that does not happen you should contact an attorney who can fight for you.
It is very important that you don't quit. If you quit it makes it much harder for an attorney to protect you and to get you the relief you are entitled to. Therefore, please talk to an attorney before you quit to make sure it is the right call.
Feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this matter further.
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