According to Massachusetts law, sexual harassment is defined as the unwanted conduct which is of a sexual nature, and includes both verbal advances and physical acts 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 Massachusetts Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?

First, Shirley 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. 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 Massachusetts and federal law have both created agencies with the authority to investigate sexual harassment claims. These agencies conduct investigations at a given Shirley work site in order to verify if a complaint that they have received is true or not. Also, under these laws, employers may not fire or retaliate against any employee who has alleged sexual harassment in a claim.

How can a Massachusetts attorney help?

Without expertise in the applicable laws, both investigating and proving a sexual harassment claim can be difficult. The federal agencies that handle initial claims of sexual harassment are often understaffed and overworked. Because of this, working with a Shirley attorney might be the best way to make sure that your claim is processed in a timely manner.