The laws of Pennsylvania define sexual harassment as any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including acts of either a verbal or physical nature. Some types of sexual harassment that are most commonly committed by an employer include exchanging favoritism for sexual favors, the creation of a hostile work environment of a sexual nature, and sexual advances.

How does Pennsylvania Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?

First, York employers may be required to formulate company policies concerning sexual conduct and post them for employees to see. 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.

The laws of the state of Pennsylvania and federal law have both appointed agencies with the authority to investigate sexual harassment claims. These agencies conduct investigations at a given York work site in order to verify if a complaint that they have received is true or not. These laws also prohibit employers from firing workers or taking any retaliatory action against workers who have complained of sexual harassment.

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. The federal officers who investigate claims of sexual harassment are, unfortunately, often too busy to give much attention to any one claim. With that in mind, you should consider speaking with an attorney in York, as this might be the best way to ensure that your claim is filed before the deadlines set by the laws of Pennsylvania.