Most folks who think about the concept of sexual harassment immediately form a mental picture of a male supervisor making sexual advances toward a female employee. While this may very well be a common form of sexual harassment in the workplace, it certainly isn’t the only one. Contrary to what some people may believe, men, can be – and often are – the victims of sexual harassment.
A Significant Problem
According to statistical data from the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 16.3% of all sexual harassment charges across the country were filed by men. This, of course, does not account for all the unreported incidents of workplace sexual harassment against men, which in all likelihood is far greater than the incidents reported.
Equally important is the fact that the laws prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace protect all employees from sexual harassment regardless of gender. In the case of Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc. (1998) 523 U.S. 75, 78, the United States Supreme Court affirmed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”) prohibits men as well as women from workplace discrimination based on sex.
The same is true under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”), which is the California law prohibiting workplace discrimination and harassment. The court in Mogilefsky v. Superior Court (1993) 20 Cal.App.4th 1409, 1416 held that there is “no basis of support in the statutory language for the contention that the Legislature intended to limit protection from sexual harassment to male-female harassment.”
Consistent with these authorities, the EEOC has expressly confirmed that “both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex.”
Along the same lines, the California Civil Rights Department has also confirmed that “individuals of any gender can be the target of sexual harassment.”
Looking for a Sexual Harassment Attorney in Los Angeles, CA?
At Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C., we understand how difficult it can be for men to seek legal representation after experiencing sexual harassment. That’s why our team is dedicated to standing up for our clients and fighting for their rights. By choosing us, you’ll have a team of experienced attorneys on your side who can work on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid a percentage of what we recover, not an hourly fee or upfront retainers. Our services extend to clients in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Glendale. Our law firm has a proven track record of satisfying clients. To see if we’re the right fit for your case, reach out to us for a complimentary case evaluation.