At the Leichter Law Firm, APC, the California employment law attorney, Aryeh Leichter, knows that most California workplace cultures are friendly and inviting, no matter the industry.
Whether it is a restaurant, silicon valley, or a family-owned business, employers and employees create long-term friendships that help them get through more than workplace challenges, but personal difficulties.
Blurring the lines between coworkers and friends is not uncommon and may help produce a healthy environment for everyone within the company. The problem becomes, when employers, supervisors, customers, and vendors spend time together outside of work, allegations of sexual harassment become more prevalent.
Whether it is an after-work mixer, conference, business travel, or other circumstances, employers are as responsible for sexual harassment outside of work as they are for harassment that occurs during work hours when it involves employees, vendors, customers, or clients.
What are the Most Common Types of Sexual Harassment That Occurs Outside of Work in California?
In California, employees are prohibited from harassing others, during or outside of work hours, both on and off the employer’s premises.
Some of the most common occurrences that are still sexual harassment may include:
- A manager physically groped an employee at a work event held offsite.
- Following, monitoring, and stalking coworkers.
- Inappropriate behavior between employees while traveling on business.
- Leaving or delivering sexual or romantic gifts.
- Making romantic and sexual phone calls, messages, emails, or notes.
- Sharing personal, erotic, or harassing messages or postings on social networking sites.
- Supervisors use their status or influence to compel employees to perform sexual favors.
- Unwanted physical contact.
These behaviors are more than just sexual harassment, they create hostile work environments throughout California.
This is because a supervisor who made inappropriate physical contact with an employee at a trade show is still the same person the employee will need to interact with when they return to work.
If a coworker sends a sexually explicit message or image to another coworker via social media over the weekend, this is still somebody the employee will have to interact with during the work week.
The bottom line is, whether it is sexual harassment outside the workplace during or after work hours, employers and their supervisors and managers are still responsible.
Contact the Leichter Law Firm, APC Sexual Harassment Attorney in Los Angeles, California
If you have been sexually harassed by an employee, supervisor, or from another person with whom you share a work-related relationship, contact Aryeh Leichter, the Leichter Law Firm, APC founder and employment law attorney in Los Angeles County today to discuss the legal remedies that may be available for your unique workplace circumstances today, starting with a free consultation by calling 818-915-6624 or contacting the firm online.