Sexual harassment is defined by New York law as unwelcome conduct that is of a sexual nature, which includes both verbal and physical actions. Employers are most often involved in the following forms of sexual harassment acts: demanding sexual favors in exchange for promotions, creating a sexually offensive work environment, and making sexual advances.

How does New York Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?

First, Patchogue employers can be required to create 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 process for handling such claims, and the corrective measures for when a claim is proven.

There are also agencies which are formed by federal and New York law for the specific purpose of handling sexual harassment cases. Such agencies have the authority to investigate work sites to determine if the complaints they receive in Patchogue are true. Such laws also make it illegal for employers to dismiss an employee for filing a harassment claim or to take any other action based on retaliation against the employee.

How can a New York attorney help?

Without expertise in the applicable laws, both investigating and proving a sexual harassment claim can be difficult. It's fairly common for federal officials who investigate these issues to be overworked. So, hiring a Patchogue lawyer can be the surest way to file your sexual harassment claim within the deadlines specified by the state of New York.