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, Davenport 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.
There are also agencies which are created by federal and Iowa law for the specific purpose of handling sexual harassment cases. Such agencies have the authority to investigate work sites to determine if the complaints they receive in Davenport 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?
A claim for sexual harassment may be difficult to investigate and prove without the proper expertise in the relevant areas of law. It's not uncommon for federal investigators to be too busy to handle individual claims. Accordingly, hiring a lawyer in Davenport might be the best way to ensure that your claim is filed within the deadlines specified by Iowa for sexual harassment matters.
