my employer tries to cover up workplace harassment
Harassment can be a terrifying experience, and if it comes from your employer, it can make your workplace a toxic place to work. The law requires employers to provide their employees with a safe and healthy environment at the office, and that includes keeping up with policies against harassment and ensuring that those are effectively enforced. However, some companies may try to cover up the harassment of coworkers or superiors for various reasons. In those situations, a victim of harassment can file a lawsuit against their company to recover compensation for the damages they have suffered.
In the best case scenario, an employer who knows that a employee has experienced sexual harassment in the workplace will have an accepted system for reporting the incident and take steps to investigate it and punish the perpetrator. However, in some instances, an employer may try to cover up a sexual harassment claim in order to protect a coworker or a superior from being exposed for the illegal behavior. The reason why this is often the case is that the person who committed the harassment is usually in a position of power and can create a hostile work environment if they are not punished for their actions.
The problem with covering up a workplace harassment lawyer incident is that it can lead to retaliation against the employee who filed the complaint. This can include being demoted from a position, transferred to an undesirable location in the company or given less desirable responsibilities or tasks. Depending on the circumstances, this retaliation can also be a form of workplace discrimination and violates federal and state employment laws.
What should I do if my employer tries to cover up workplace harassment?
Some examples of retaliation against a worker who reports workplace harassment toronto or participates in a harassment investigation or lawsuit could be being forced to work late, getting denied vacation time, being put on the lowest priority projects and even being fired. An experienced employment attorney can help victims of retaliation from their employer to document the retaliation and build a strong case against their employer and any other responsible parties.
Often, the reason that a company will try to cover up workplace harassment is because they genuinely believe that the situation isn’t illegal. For example, they may argue that they have no anti-harassment policy or they genuinely didn’t have knowledge of the harassing activity. However, New York employment law holds companies “strictly liable” for any harassment that takes place in the workplace.
The key is to report the harassment as soon as possible. Then, if the company doesn’t have an effective policy or training, dismisses your concerns, doesn’t properly investigate or takes adverse employment action in response to your complaint, you should file a charge with the EEOC or a state agency to hold them accountable. An experienced employment lawyer can help you to build a strong case, maximize your settlement or jury trial award and recover damages.
