What is Sexual Harassment under Rhode Island Law?
The laws of Rhode Island define sexual harassment as any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including acts of either a verbal or physical nature. Some types of sexual harassment that are most commonly committed by an employer include exchanging favoritism for sexual favors, the creation of a hostile work environment of a sexual nature, and sexual advances.
How does Rhode Island Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?
First, employers who are located in Johnston can be required to create and visibly post company policies regulating sexual conduct. 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.
The laws of the state of Rhode Island and federal law have both appointed agencies with the authority to investigate sexual harassment claims. These agencies conduct investigations at a given Johnston work site in order to verify if a complaint that they have received is true or not. Employers are also prohibited under these laws from taking action in retaliation against an employee who has claimed sexual harassment, such as firing them or denying them a promotion.
How can a Rhode Island attorney help?
Without expertise in the applicable laws, both investigating and proving a sexual harassment claim can be difficult. The federal officers who investigate claims of sexual harrassment are, unfortunatly, often too busy to give much attention to any one claim. So, hiring a Johnston lawyer can be the surest way to file your sexual harassment claim within the deadlines specified by the state of Rhode Island.
