Illinois law defines sexual harassment as any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, whether they are verbal advances or physical action. Common examples of sexual harassment done by employers include making sexual advances, creating an overtly sexual and offensive work environment, and making demands for sexual favors as a condition to promotion.

How does Illinois Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?

First, employers who are located in Charleston can be required to establish 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 Illinois and federal law have both created agencies with the authority to investigate sexual harassment claims. These agencies conduct investigations at a given Charleston 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 Illinois 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 Charleston might be the best way to ensure that your claim is filed within the deadlines specified by Illinois for sexual harassment matters.