What is Sexual Harassment under Iowa Law?
Iowa law defines sexual harassment as any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, whether they are verbal advances or physical action. Employers are most often involved in the following types of sexual harassment acts: demanding sexual favors in exchange for promotions, creating a sexually offensive work environment, and making sexual advances.
How does Iowa Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?
First, Cedar Falls employers can be required to implement company policies that specifically address sexual harassment in the workplace. These must be posted in a visible area such as a break room. These policies may include contact information for an employee to report sexual harassment, the procedure for handling such claims, and the corrective measures for when a claim is proven.
Additionally, federal and Iowa laws create specific agencies which are responsible for handling sexual harassment cases. The agencies are given authority to investigate workplaces in Cedar Falls to determine if the incidents alleged in the complaints they receive are true. Such laws also make it illegal for employers to fire an employee for filing a harassment claim or to take any other action based on retaliation against the employee.
How can a Iowa attorney help?
It can be difficult to both investigate and prove a sexual harassment claim without having any expertise in the applicable areas of law. It's not uncommon for federal investigators to be too busy to handle individual claims. Therefore, hiring an attorney in Cedar Falls can be the safest way to file your claim within the deadlines for sexual harassment claims that Iowa has defined.
