California Workplace Harassment Lawyer
If you're facing harassment at work, our California workplace harassment lawyers at Westview Law can help protect your rights and fight for you. With 40 years of combined experience, we can help you understand your rights, protect your job, and pursue financial compensation for the harm you have suffered, including emotional distress, lost wages, and other damages. Whether it's workplace sexual harassment, racial discrimination, disability-based harassment, or hostile work environment, our employment law attorneys are prepared to hold employers accountable under California law and fight to recover the compensation you deserve.
Speak with a workplace harassment lawyer today. Schedule a free consultation.
Overview of Workplace Harassment in California
Workplace harassment refers to any unacceptable or offensive conduct that creates a hostile or intimating work environment. It is often based on protected characteristics such as race, gender, sex, religion, age, disability, gender identity, marital status, etc. Such harassment can come from anyone including supervisors, coworkers, or third parties like clients or contractors.
Harassment must not be physical. This means that verbal abuse, offensive comments, offensive emails, and other forms of inappropriate behaviors can qualify. Thankfully, California law provides strong protection for harassed employees and requires employers to take prompt measures to prevent or correct harassment. If you've experienced (or are experiencing) harassment in California, reach out to our California sexual harassment lawyer so we can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Your Rights Under California and Federal Law
Both federal and state laws promote and ensure the right to work in a safe, respectful environment in California. At the federal level, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. It also makes it illegal to retaliate against an employee who reports harassment or participates in an investigation. This law is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
At the state level, California law provides even broader protection through the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). It covers a wider range of protected characteristics, including sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, and gender identity. According to this California Civil Rights Department (CRD) poster, FEHA requires California employers to take reasonable measures to prevent and correct all forms of harassment in the workplace. It also requires employers with five or more employees to train and provide their employees with relevant information on the illegal nature of workplace harassment.
Types of Workplace Harassment We Handle in California
Workplace harassment can occur in many ways, and it is not always obvious or physical. Our California workplace harassment attorneys represent employees facing all types of unlawful conduct, including situations that are subtle, ongoing, or ignored by employers. The most common types include:
Sexual Harassment including unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate comments, sexual jokes, unwanted physical contact, or pressure for sexual favors. This is arguably the most common type of workplace harassment in California. You need an experienced California sexual assault lawyer to seek compensation and recover damages.
Gender-related harassment based on gender, gender identity, or gender expression. It can involve insults, stereotypes, or unequal treatment.
Race discrimination or ethnicity harassment such as racial slurs, offensive comments, jokes, or discriminatory treatment based on race, color, or ethnicity.
Religious harassment, which may involve mocking religious beliefs, pressuring employees to change beliefs, or denying reasonable religious accommodations.
Disability or medical condition harassment tied to physical or mental disability; can include insults, exclusion, or retaliation.
Age-Based Harassment, especially on older employees, through insults, stereotypes, or pressure to leave their jobs because of age.
Harassment by supervisors or management, which can create immediate employer liability.
Harassment by coworkers or third parties - Employers may still be responsible for harassment by coworkers, clients, or vendors if they fail to stop it.
How a California Workplace Harassment Lawyer Can Help
Workplace harassment cases can be stressful and overwhelming, especially when your job, income, and well-being are at stake. That's why we recommend you hire a California workplace harassment lawyer to protect your rights. Here's a summary of how a workplace harassment attorney can help you.
1. Evaluate your claim
An employment law attorney reviews the facts, evidence, and timeline to determine whether your experience qualifies as illegal harassment under federal or California law.
2. Gather and preserve evidence
Your attorney helps collect emails, messages, witness statements, and workplace records that support your claim and prevent important evidence from being lost.
3. Handle employer and HR communications
They communicate with your employer, HR department, or their attorneys on your behalf, thereby protecting you from retaliation or pressure.
4. File complaints and legal claims
Your lawyer prepares and submits claims with agencies like the CRD or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and files a lawsuit if needed. They also ensure all filings are done within the stipulated deadlines.
5. Seek compensation and accountability
In most cases, an experienced attorney negotiates on your behalf for fair settlement to recover compensation for damages such as lost wages, emotional distress, and other available compensation. In case the settlement negotiations fail, your attorney should be ready to represent you in court.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Workplace Harassment in California?
In California, employers are strictly liable for workplace sexual harassment by supervisors, even if they were not aware of the harassment and took reasonable steps to prevent it. On the other hand, employers are liable for harassment by co-workers only if they were aware or should have known and didn't take any reasonable action. Employers are also liable for harassment by non-employees such as clients, customers, and contractors, if they knew or should have known and did not act.
Moreover, the individual who committed the harassment can also be held personally liable even when the employer is also liable. Our California workplace harassment attorneys can help you identify all liable parties, hold them accountable, and pursue full and fair compensation.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Workplace Harassment Claim?
If workplace harassment has harmed your career, finances, or well-being, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The exact damages depend on the facts of your case, but a successful claim can recover one or more of the following:
Lost wages and income
Future lost earnings
Emotional distress damages
Medical or therapy expenses
Punitive damages (in certain cases)
Attorney’s fees and legal costs
Why Choose Westview Law as Your California Workplace Harassment Lawyers
At Westview Law, we combine experience, dedication, and client-focused service to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Here’s why employees across California trust us:
No Upfront Fees
Our goal is to ensure that attorney fees and legal costs doesn't stop you from seeking justice and recovering compensation. That's why we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay anything unless we win.
Experience with Complex Employment Cases
Our employment law attorneys have successfully recovered compensation in many challenging workplace harassment and employment cases. We know how to handle complex situations, including high-profile or multi-employee disputes.
Personalized Representation
Every case is unique, and we tailor our approach to fit your specific circumstances. You’ll receive individual attention and a legal strategy designed around your needs and goals.
24/7 Support
We understand that harassment can happen any time, so our team is available to answer your questions and provide guidance whenever you need it. Call us today!
Trial-Ready Approach
We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, which strengthens negotiations and ensures we’re ready to fight for you in court if necessary.
Expert Guidance
From understanding your legal rights to navigating state and federal complaint processes, we guide you through every step of your workplace harassment claim with clarity and expertise.
Speak With a Workplace Harassment Lawyer Today!
If you're experiencing any abusive behavior at work, do not hesitate to take the right action. Reach out to us for a free case review and learn how we can help protect your rights. Our California workplace harassment lawyers are ready to investigate your situation, advise you on the best legal strategy, and aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve for lost wages, emotional distress, and other damages.
With Westview Law, you’ll have a trial-ready, experienced legal team by your side, providing personalized attention and aggressive advocacy every step of the way. Contact us today or visit our office for a free consultation free consultation and take the first step toward holding your employer accountable.
Speak With a California Workplace Retaliation Lawyer Today
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can pursue a claim even if the harassment comes from a coworker, as long as the employer knew or should have known about it and failed to take action. Employers can be held liable for allowing a hostile work environment to continue.
Although workplace sexual harassment is one of the most common, harassment doesn’t have to be sexual to be illegal. Harassment based on race, religion, disability, age, gender identity, or other protected characteristics is also unlawful under both federal and California law. However, if you're facing sexual assault, you need an experienced California sexual assault lawyer to seek compensation and recover damages.
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Reach out to our team for personalized insight into your unique case.
We maximize your recovery by preparing every case for trial