{"id":358051,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:22","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/sexual-harassment.html"},"modified":"2023-09-20T13:23:33","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T18:23:33","slug":"sexual-harassment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/sexual-harassment.html","title":{"rendered":"What is Sexual Harassment Law?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is Sexual Harassment Law?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Sexual harassment refers to many types of offensive conduct. It can involve unwanted comments, physical contact, and personal remarks. Sexual harassment law helps protect victims and their opportunities.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sexual harassment may happen anywhere. It often occurs in workplaces and schools.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When you have a conflict with a fellow employee, it ruins your day. A complaint to human resources or a discreet conversation with the other worker in their cubicle can resolve most workplace disputes. But that’s not always the case.<\/p>\n

Some problems are harder to handle and ruin much more than just your day. Sexual harassment is a well-known but underreported factor in the workplace, education, and society. Find out whether what you experienced may be a form of sexual harassment by speaking with a lawyer in employment law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Definition of Sexual Harassment Law<\/h2>\n

The legal definition of\u00a0sexual harassment<\/a>\u00a0is “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other physical or verbal attention of a sexual nature.” Sexual harassment can include sexual comments or sexual conduct not directed at a specific person. For instance, general demeaning remarks about women can be discriminatory<\/a> if someone indicates they don’t want to hear them.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Equal Employment Opportunity Commission<\/a>\u00a0(EEOC) offers guidance for sexual harassment claims against employers.\u00a0Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964<\/a>\u00a0makes sexual harassment a form of gender discrimination. The types of sexual harassment cases covered by the EEOC include:<\/p>\n