The law of the state of Washington defines sexual harassment as conduct that is unwelcome, and encompasses both physical and verbal actions. The forms 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 Washington Law Prohibit Sexual Harassment?

First, employers in King County are often required to formulate company policies regarding sexual conduct, which must be posted and visible to employees. The policies should at least include: contact information for the reporting of sexual harassment incidents, an outline of policies to be followed in filing a claim, and the remedies available when a claim successfully proven.

The laws of the state of Washington and federal law have both formed agencies with the authority to investigate sexual harassment claims. These agencies conduct investigations at a given King County 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 Washington 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 overworked to handle individual claims. With that in mind, you should consider speaking with an attorney in King County, as this may be the ideal way to ensure that your claim is filed before the deadlines set by the laws of Washington.