# Fresno Sexual Harassment Lawyer | Stop Workplace Harassment > Was the California law protecting workers from sexual harassment violated? Ready to sue for physical touching, obscene comments, text messages Get top Source: https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com/sexual-harassment/ Firm: Employment Lawyers Group — employee-side employment lawyers since 1993. Serving Fresno County, California. Phone: (818) 783-7300 (calling is the fastest way to reach the legal team) Office: 13418 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 Contact form: https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com/contact/ Consultations are free and confidential; cases are taken on contingency. --- ## **What Is Sexual Harassment?** It is unlawful to harass an employee because of their sex, California Government Code Section 12940(j)(1). Sexually harassing behavior includes: 1. **Sexual favors**; 2. **Unwanted sexual advances and propositions**; 3. **Verbal conduct**, including epithets, slurs or derogatory comments, and comments about a person's body, appearance, or sexual activity; 4. **Physical conduct** including assault, impeding or blocking movement, OR any physical interference with normal work or movement; or 5. **Visual harassing** including leering looks, offensive gestures whether or not the harassment also results in the loss of a tangible job benefit. Contact us, or call **[(818) 783-7300](tel:8187837300)** to consult with one of our Fresno sexual harassment lawyers. ### **Sexual Harassment Does Not Have to Be Motivated by Sex** Effective January 1, 2014, sexual harassment does not have to be motivated by sexual desire. California’s anti-sexual harassment law reads, "Harassment" because of sex includes sexual harassment, gender harassment, and harassment based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. While sexual harassment is often motivated by sexual interest, it is frequently about **subjugation, control, and abuse of power**. This legal principle was clarified to address cases where harassers attempted to claim overtly sexual conduct (such as comments about a person's body, or non-consensual touching) was not harassment because their intent was not sexual desire. **Overtly sexual comments** made to an employee are sexual harassment. Touching an employee on their buttocks or breasts without consent is sexually offensive and harassment, regardless of intention. Making odd comments about the sexual properties of an employee’s bodies, such as “Nice ass,” is harassing and related to a sexual part of one’s body. Contact one of our sexual harassment lawyers serving Moreno Valley and the rest of Riverside County from our office at 6809 Indiana Avenue Suite 130 in Riverside, California at 951-367-1000 if you have questions about whether conduct that happened to you at work is sexual harassment. Contact us, or call **[(818) 783-7300](tel:8187837300)** to consult with a Taft sexual harassment lawyer. ### **Your Employer Has An Obligation To Cause Sexual Harassment To Stop** Employers must take all **reasonable steps necessary to prevent** discrimination and harassment (Government Code Sections 12940(j)). If harassment has occurred, the employer must take **remedial action** not only to change the harasser's behavior, but to deter potential harassers from unlawful conduct. 1. Reasonable steps include: affirmatively raising the issue, expressing strong disapproval, developing appropriate **sanctions/discipline**, and instructing employees to report harassment. 2. Appropriate corrective action is some form of **discipline** that contributes to or eliminates the problem. A mere request to stop the behavior is insufficient. 3. The employer may even have to **remove the harasser** from the workplace if their mere presence creates a hostile working environment. 4. The promptness and adequacy of the employer's response is a fact question for the jury. 5. Employers are liable for failing to remedy sexually harassing environments they **knew of or should have known of**. Constructive knowledge is imposed if the harassment is pervasive. Failing to investigate, or to repudiate the employee's conduct by redressing the harm done and punishing or discharging can cause an employer to be liable for **punitive damages** if their non-managerial agent committed an act of discrimination. Contact us, or call **[(818) 783-7300](tel:8187837300)** to consult with a Wasco sexual harassment lawyer. #### **Sexual Harassment Investigations** California law requires that the employer's sexual harassment investigation must ultimately be aimed at: 1) **determining fault**; 2) ensuring the claimant is safe from harassment; and 3) determining what steps are needed to stop the harassment. Merely listening to the claimant is not enough. 1. Employees who are **fired for complaining** of sexual harassment, or due to their participation in an investigation, may sue under the Fair Employment and Housing Act. 2. Do not hold back facts if you are making a complaint. Provide as much information as possible, or you may later be accused of not mentioning a critical aspect of the harassment. 3. If you are involved in an investigation, be careful about naming witnesses. If you are not sure if somebody saw something, do not claim they are a witness. Be sure to tell the employer about any **ex-employees or family members** who are witnesses and offer access to their contact information. Sexual harassment cases dealt with in the work environment could become huge lawsuits and should not be taken lightly. Contact an experienced Fresno employment attorney today. **Serving All Of Fresno County**. Contact us, or call **[(818) 783-7300](tel:8187837300) toll free** to consult with an Employment Lawyers Group sexual harassment lawyer, supervised by Karl Gerber who will be the lead attorney on your case. ## Our Firm: No Upfront Fees or Costs ### Contingency Fee Representation All employment cases for employees are taken on a **contingency basis**. We are only paid a fee **when and if we win** your case, and we **advance all litigation costs**. Our goal is to make expert legal representation accessible to every hardworking employee. ### Serving Fresno County We have proudly served all of Fresno County since 1993. Ready to discuss your case? (818) 783-7300 Submit A Contact Form The Employment Lawyers Group has successfully handled 2,000+ Separate California Employment Cases ## Media Engagements ## Sample Case Results breach of commission contract $1,150,000 Unpaid commissions of two plaintiffs unpaid wages $875,000 For 4 oil field service industry workers whose times worked were not recorded on timesheets and were on-call forced to work without pay standby pay case $800,000 Controlled stand by class action settlement Disclaimer: These results are based on the facts of these specific cases and do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case. ## Practice Areas [Discrimination Age, Disability, FMLA/CFRA, Gender, National Origin, Pregnancy, Race, and Sexual Orientation discrimination claims.](https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com/discrimination/) [Unpaid Wages & Overtime Recovering earnings for overtime, bonuses, commissions, meal & rest break violations, and prevailing wage claims.](https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com/unpaid-wages/) [Sexual Harassment Compassionate and effective representation for sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims.](https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com/sexual-harassment/) [Wrongful Termination Representing employees terminated in violation of public policy, contracts, or California and federal law.](https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com/wrongful-termination/) [Leaves & Retaliation Protecting employees who face adverse actions after reporting illegal activity or taking protected medical leave.](https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com/leaves-of-absence/) [Whistleblowers Advocating for employees who report fraud, waste, or abuse under California and federal whistleblower protection laws.](https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com/whistle-blower/) ## Our California Locations ### Bakersfield [BakersfieldLaborAttorney.com](https://bakersfieldlaborattorney.com) 5401 Business Park S, #214, Bakersfield CA 93309 [(661) 412-9600](tel:6614129600) ### Los Angeles [EmployeeLawCA.com](https://employeelawca.com/) 611 Wilshire Blvd, #1023, Los Angeles CA 90017 [(323) 525-1600](tel:3235251600) ### Orange County [WorkLawyerOC.com](https://worklawyeroc.com) 2522 Chambers Rd, #100, Tustin CA 92780 [(714) 210-8000](tel:7142108000) ### Riverside [RiversideEmploymentLawyer.com](https://riversideemploymentlawyer.com) 9496 Magnolia Ave, #208, Riverside CA 92503 [(951) 367-1000](tel:9513671000) ### Sacramento [SacramentoLaborAttorney.com](https://sacramentolaborattorney.com) 777 Campus Commons Rd, #200, Sacramento CA 95825 [(916) 340-0000](tel:9163400000) ### San Bernardino [EmploymentAttorneySanBernardino.com](https://employmentattorneysanbernardino.com) 337 N. Vineyard Ave, #400, Ontario CA 91764 [(909) 663-2100](tel:9096632100) ### San Diego [SanDiegoEmployeeLawyer.com](https://sandiegoemployeelawyer.com) 330 "A" St, #60, San Diego CA 92101 [(619) 320-3000](tel:6193203000) ### San Francisco / Bay Area [BayAreaEmploymentAttorney.net](https://bayareaemploymentattorney.net) 524 Union St, #400, San Francisco CA 94133 [(877) 525-0700](tel:8775250700) ### San Jose / Silicon Valley [SiValleyLaborLawyer.com](https://sivalleylaborlawyer.com) 111 N. Market St, #300, San Jose CA 95113 [(877) 525-0700](tel:8775250700) ### Sherman Oaks [WorkLawyerCA.com](https://worklawyerca.com) 13418 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks CA 91423 [(818) 783-7300](tel:8187837300) ### Torrance / South Bay [JobTerminationLaw.com](https://jobterminationlaw.com/) 3655 Torrance Blvd, 3rd Floor, Torrance CA 90503 [(310) 842-8600](tel:3108428600) ### Ventura / Oxnard [VenturaEmploymentLawyer.com](https://venturaemploymentlawyer.com) 4030 West Hemlock St, Oxnard CA 93035 [(805) 200-0100](tel:8052000100) ### Additional Sites [BostonLaborLaw.com](https://bostonlaborlaw.com) [DcLaborAttorney.com](https://dclaborattorney.com) [FresnoEmployeeLawyer.com](https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com) [JobLawyer.net](https://joblawyer.net) [MarylandLaborAttorney.com](https://marylandlaborattorney.com/) [ModemStud.com](https://modemstud.com) [VintageLosAngeles.org](https://vintagelosangeles.org) [WorkplaceLawyer.org](https://workplacelawyer.org) ## About Firm Founder, Karl Gerber Firm Founder, **Karl Gerber**, has been an employment and wrongful termination attorney since **1993**. He has represented a wide range of employees throughout California. Mr. Gerber has won **51 of the binding arbitrations and jury trials** he first chaired, and a number of his appeals are published. This deep trial experience is the foundation of the firm's strategic approach to litigation. The employment attorneys employed by the Employment Lawyers Group have worked at the firm well in excess of five years, have also tried many different labor cases, and have all been **extensively trained on employment and wrongful termination law by Karl Gerber**. [Meet Karl Gerber](https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com/karl-gerber/) ## Ready to Discuss Your Case? Your rights as an employee matter. Submit a contact form and we'll get back to you. Submit A Contact Form [Call (818) 783-7300 Now](tel:8187837300)