According to Maryland law, sexual harassment is defined as the unwanted conduct that is of a sexual nature, and includes both verbal advances and physical actions Sexual advances, creating a hostile work environment that is blatantly sexual in nature, and sexual advances are some of the more prevalent forms of sexual harassment amongst employers.
How does Maryland Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?
First, Bethesda employers can be required to formulate 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, process for filing claims, and any corrective or preventative measures should a claim be proven.
The laws of the state of Maryland and federal law have both formed agencies with the authority to investigate sexual harassment claims. These agencies conduct investigations at a given Bethesda work site in order to verify if a complaint that they have received is true or not. Additionally, these laws prohibit employers from firing an employee for alleging sexual harassment or taking any action in retaliation to a claim.
How can a Maryland attorney help?
It can be difficult to both investigate and establish 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 frequently understaffed and overworked. Thus, hiring an attorney in Bethesda can be the safest way to file your claim within the deadlines for sexual harassment claims that Maryland has defined.