The Wyoming Fair Employment Practices Act of 1965 strictly prohibits any employer from discriminating due to someone’s sex. Encompassed under the Act is the prohibition of sexual harassment. The Act governs both private and public companies and organizations with 10 or more workers. You also have protection against sexual harassment on the federal level due to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
How does the law define sexual harassment?
Although there is no clear definition of sexual harassment, it is when someone engages in intimidating and threatening behaviors that are systematic and pervasive enough to create a hostile work environment. If their behavior impedes the ability of those who work in the office to perform or to advance in their position, then that is considered sexual harassment, and it is prohibited in Wyoming. To prove that you are being sexually harassed, you must be able to show that it isn’t just you who is offended by the misconduct, but that any “reasonable” person in your shoes would also feel offended by the egregious nature of the behavior.
There are many behaviors that can constitute sexual harassment. Examples include sexual innuendos, unwelcome sexual advances, inappropriate touching, lewd acts or gestures, explicit sexual material or derogatory comments, jokes, or remarks that are sexually related.
It isn’t always the case that sexual harassment is repetitious, though; there are instances where the sexual harassment consists of one event. If someone who holds authority over your position within a company makes a sexual advance and makes it clear that your compliance with their sexual request will have an effect on your position, then that is quid pro quo sexual harassment. Also, if you are offered an advancement to your position in exchange for performing sexual behavior by someone who is your superior, that is also quid pro quo harassment.
How can I make the harassment stop?
Those who are being victimized by sexual harassment have to start by making both their supervisor and their harasser know that the behavior is inappropriate and demand that it cease and be addressed immediately. If you are fearful of retaliation for filing a sexual harassment complaint, you might want to hire a Wyoming sexual harassment lawyer to represent you. If the case should not be resolved at the work level, you will want a Wyoming sexual harassment attorney to help you initiate a lawsuit.
The second step is to file a complaint at the federal level with the Equal Employment Opportunity Employment. The bigger paper trail you can leave and the more documentation you gather, the better you will be able to protect yourself, and – if necessary – win in a court of law.
Is my employer or the harasser liable?
In general, if you can prove that you have been sexually harassed, you may be able to hold your employer liable. You will have to show that they were made aware of the behavior that they did nothing to ameliorate it, and that you suffered damages as a consequence. If you can show that you lost wages or suffered damages like pain and suffering, you are entitled to both compensatory – and in egregious cases, punitive – damages if you file a sexual harassment lawsuit.
There is only one good way to protect your position and ensure that you have the necessary documentation in place to both make the harassment stop and to recover for any damages; it is critical for you to consult USAttorneys.com today. Here you can get connected with an experienced Wyoming sexual harassment attorney who can help you take the right steps to prove your case in a court of law if it comes to that point.
