The laws of Pennsylvania define sexual harassment as any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including acts of either a verbal or physical nature. The types of sexual harassment that are most common when done by an employer are sexual advances, the exchange of workplace favoritism for sexual favors, and the creation of a hostile work environment that is overly sexual.
How does Pennsylvania Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?
First, employers who are located in Harrisburg can be required to create and visibly post company policies regulating sexual conduct. The policies should at least include: contact information for the reporting of sexual harassment incidents, an outline of procedures to be followed in filing a claim, and the remedies available when a claim successfully proven.
Additionally, federal and Pennsylvania laws create specific agencies which are responsible for handling sexual harassment cases. The agencies are given authority to investigate workplaces in Harrisburg to determine if the incidents alleged in the complaints they receive are true. Such laws also make it illegal for employers to fire an employee for filing a harassment claim or to take any other action based on retaliation against the employee.
How can a Pennsylvania 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. It's not uncommon for federal investigators to be too busy to handle individual claims. Therefore, hiring an attorney in Harrisburg can be the safest way to file your claim within the deadlines for sexual harassment claims that Pennsylvania has defined.