Florida law defines sexual harassment as any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, whether they are verbal advances or physical action. Sexual advances, creating a hostile work environment that is blatantly sexual in nature, and sexual advances are some of the more common types of sexual harassment amongst employers.

How does Florida Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?

First, Key West employers can be required to establish company policies that specifically address sexual harassment in the workplace. These must be posted in a visible area such as a break room. Such policies should include items such as contact information for reporting harassment incidents, procedures for filing claims, and any corrective or preventative measures should a claim be proven.

The laws of the state of Florida and federal law have both created agencies with the authority to investigate sexual harassment claims. These agencies conduct investigations at a given Key West 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 Florida attorney help?

Investigating and proving a sexual harassment claim might be difficult without consulting someone with expertise in the relevant laws. The federal officers who investigate claims of sexual harassment are, unfortunately, often too busy to give much attention to any one claim. Accordingly, hiring a lawyer in Key West might be the best way to ensure that your claim is filed within the deadlines specified by Florida for sexual harassment matters.