Sexual Harassment on Wall Street

Legal Representation for Sexual Harassment on Wall Street

Wall Street is home to more than its fair share of sexual harassment behavior. This industry operates in an insular fashion and can be intimidating for employees who are not at the top of the corporate ladder to fight back against discrimination and harassment in the workplace. In fact, employers try to insulate themselves from liability for sexual harassment claims by having workers sign the U4 form before accepting a position. However, this does not protect employers from liability for the unlawful behavior of any colleague or supervisor who harasses an employee in the workplace.

There are options to protect your rights against sexual harassment in the workplace, including on Wall Street. The helpful and knowledgeable team of attorneys at Leeds Brown Law in New York City can help with your sexual harassment claim against employers on Wall Street.

Laws Against Sexual Harassment on Wall Street

Employers who have at least 15 employees are subject to Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits any form of sexual harassment in the workplace. You can still file a claim against an employer with fewer than 15 employees on Wall Street under the New York City Human Rights Law and the New York State Human Rights Law. There are broad protections for employees against sexual harassment in the workplace thanks to these laws.

One of the most pervasive forms of sexual harassment on Wall Street is quid pro quo requests for sexual favors. They typically involve a superior asking a subordinate to perform a sexual favor in exchange for job security, a promotion or a raise. This behavior is unlawful and should be reported.

Another common form of harassment in the workplace on Wall Street is the creation of a hostile work environment. This occurs when an employer participates in or is made aware of recurring behaviors that make it uncomfortable for an employee to do his or her job. When unwelcome comments and sexual advances are repeated with the employer’s knowledge, this can rise to the level of a hostile work environment.

Recovering Damages for Sexual Harassment on Wall Street

An employee on Wall Street who has experienced sexual harassment can recover from an employer even if the harassment was done by a peer, co-worker, someone of the same gender as the victim or anyone in the workplace who is not their direct superior. You may need to first file a claim for sexual harassment on Wall Street with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The EEOC will investigate the claim, and you may end up suing the employer in state or federal court at the conclusion of the EEOC investigation. It is vital to work with a reputable sexual harassment lawyer in New York City to pursue this process because you want to be sure that you are preserving all of your rights to recover.

The typical forms of damages for victims who successfully file a sexual harassment claim in New York City include compensatory damages, emotional distress damages and punitive damages. Punitive damages can be quite significant and are typically awarded if an employer is shown to have a history of engaging in or enabling unacceptable behaviors in the workplace.

Consult with an Experienced Attorney to File a Claim for Sexual Harassment on Wall Street

To make sure that you have an effective strategy for filing a claim for sexual harassment against an employer on Wall Street, work with an experienced gender discrimination lawyer from Leeds Brown Law. You can call our New York City office at 866-728-5015 for a free initial appointment to discuss the details of your case. Consulting with our skilled legal team is the first step in making sure that you are setting yourself up to recover for the sexual harassment that you experienced in the workplace.