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

First, employers in Lacey are often required to implement 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 procedures 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 appointed agencies with the authority to investigate sexual harassment claims. These agencies conduct investigations at a given Lacey work site in order to verify if a complaint that they have received is true or not. Also, 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?

A claim for sexual harassment may be difficult to investigate and prove without the proper expertise in the relevant 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. Accordingly, hiring a lawyer in Lacey might be the best way to ensure that your claim is filed within the deadlines specified by Washington for sexual harassment matters.