Huntington Beach Sexual Harassment Attorney

Sexual harassment can make it impossible to feel safe or respected at work. If you are experiencing unwanted sexual comments, advances, touching, or a hostile environment, you have rights under California law. Call our Huntington Beach employment law attorneys at (949) 379-6250 or contact us online to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

Why Choose Our Huntington Beach Sexual Harassment Attorney

• Strategic, evidence-driven approach focused on exposing patterns of misconduct and employer inaction.
• Extensive experience handling complex employment law claims, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
• Prepared to pursue aggressive litigation when employers fail to correct unlawful workplace behavior.

What Qualifies as Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that affects the terms and conditions of employment. Under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), harassment based on sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation is unlawful. Sexual harassment generally falls into two categories:

Hostile Work Environment

A hostile work environment occurs when unwelcome conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, offensive, or abusive workplace. Examples include:

• Sexual jokes, comments, or innuendo.
• Repeated leering, staring, or inappropriate gestures.
• Unwanted touching or physical proximity.
• Displaying sexually explicit images.
• Derogatory remarks about gender or sexual orientation.

The conduct does not need to involve physical contact to violate the law.

Quid Pro Quo Harassment

Quid pro quo harassment occurs when job benefits are conditioned on sexual favors. This may involve:

• Offering promotions in exchange for sexual conduct.
• Threatening termination for rejecting advances.
• Linking compensation or scheduling decisions to personal relationships.

Even a single incident can be unlawful if it involves a supervisor conditioning employment on sexual activity.

Employer Responsibilities Under California Law

California law places an affirmative duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment before it occurs. Government Code §12940(k) requires employers to:

“Take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent discrimination and harassment from occurring.”

This includes implementing anti-harassment policies, providing mandatory training, investigating complaints promptly, and taking corrective action when misconduct is identified. Employers may be liable for harassment by supervisors, coworkers, or even third parties if they knew or should have known about the conduct and failed to act.

Retaliation Is Also Unlawful

Employees are protected from retaliation for reporting sexual harassment in good faith. Retaliation may include:

• Termination or demotion.
• Reduced hours or undesirable shifts.
• Negative performance evaluations.
• Increased scrutiny or discipline.

Even if an employer disputes the harassment claim, punishing an employee for reporting concerns violates the law.

How a Huntington Beach Sexual Harassment Attorney Can Help

Sexual harassment cases often involve credibility disputes and internal investigations controlled by the employer. An experienced attorney can:

• Evaluate whether the conduct meets the legal standard for harassment.
• Preserve evidence, including emails, texts, and witness statements.
• Identify related claims such as retaliation or wrongful termination.
• File complaints with the California Civil Rights Department.
• Negotiate settlements or pursue litigation when necessary.

Legal representation ensures that your voice is heard and that the employer cannot dismiss your concerns without scrutiny.

Contact a Huntington Beach Sexual Harassment Attorney Today

Sexual harassment can escalate if left unaddressed. Acting early protects your rights and strengthens your case. Call (949) 379-6250 or contact Aegis Law Firm online to schedule a free consultation today.