What is Sexual Harassment under South Dakota Law?
The laws of South Dakota 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 South Dakota Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?
First, Madison 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.
The laws of the state of South Dakota and federal law have both appointed agencies with the authority to investigate sexual harassment claims. These agencies conduct investigations at a given Madison work site in order to verify if a complaint that they have received is true or not. These laws also prohibit employers from firing workers or taking any retaliatory action against workers who have complained of sexual harassment.
How can a South Dakota 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. The federal agencies that handle initial claims of sexual harassment are often understaffed and overworked. So, hiring a Madison lawyer can be the surest way to file your sexual harassment claim within the deadlines specified by the state of South Dakota.
