Free yourself from sexual harassment in the workplace

Like other people here in Long Beach, you need your job. Without your income, you would not be able to pay the rent, put food on the table or afford your car payment. For this reason, you have put up with sexual harassment despite the fact that you now dread going to work and your physical and emotional well-being are compromised.

Fortunately, you do not have to put up with this form of discrimination. Whether your supervisor or manager wants to trade sexual favors for job benefits (quid pro quo sexual harassment) or you work in an environment where lewd comments, gestures and images make it difficult for you to work, you do not have to countenance it. Federal and California law both prohibit these behaviors in the workplace.

If you work in a hostile environment due to sexual harassment, you may be tempted to quit your job and move on, but that could be a mistake. If you have attempted to have the behavior stopped from within the company, but nothing has changed, you could go outside the company for help. The law protects people in your position, and you should not be afraid to exercise your rights.

It is understandable that you may be afraid, embarrassed or ashamed to come forward, but if you do not, it could continue. In fact, it may turn out that you are not the only person suffering. Shining a light on sexual harassment could help everyone in the end. In 2018, there should be no reason why any Long Beach resident should have to be subjected to such treatment in the workplace.