A few months ago, a Chicago-based panel hosted by Justice Anne Burke discussed sexual harassment in the workplace. Stories range from severely aggressive encounters to the less obvious. For example, one woman explains how a man in a position of authority kissed her despite her obvious attempts to push him away. A national study quoted by panel participants indicates that 1 in 3 women are sexually harassed in the workplace, with a significant amount of those occurrences happening in the food services and hospitality industries.
Sexual harassment takes many forms, and it may not always be obvious. While touching, groping, and indecent exposure may be obvious, jokes, inappropriate compliments or over sharing can also fall into the category of sexual harassment. This form of harassment is not just limited to women either. Data provided by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shows that between 1997 and 2011 between 11% and 16% of all sexual harassment charges were made by men.
Under Illinois Law You Must File your Claim Within 180 Days of Harassment
Under the Illinois Human Rights Act, the state has declared that as a matter of public policy, individuals should be free from sexual harassment in employment situations as well as in academic settings. It further defines sexual harassment as any unwelcome sexual advance or request for sexual favors either explicitly or implicitly. A sexual harassment charge must be made within 180 days of the incident, thus time is of the essence. If you have been the victim of inappropriate behavior in the workplace, you should contact our sexual harassment lawyers right away.
Experienced Attorneys Knows What to Look for in a Sexual Harassment Case
Proving that you were sexually harassed can be difficult as much of the evidence is based on one person claiming something happened and the other person saying that it did not. If you suspect that you are being sexually harassed, then you should document any occurrence and save any hard evidence that will help you prove your case. Additionally, the person you accuse of the harassment is prohibited from destroying records that may incriminate them but that does not always mean that they will act accordingly.
Our experienced sexual abuse attorneys will help you identify the evidence you need to build your case and will also look for any additional wrongful behaviors your harasser may be committing. At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., our experienced and compassionate discrimination and sexual harassment attorneys in Chicago understand the laws prohibiting sexual harassment both in the state of Illinois and on the federal level. Please contact us right away if you suspect that you are falling victim to sexual harassment in any form. Our initial consultation is at no cost to you.
