Hablamos Espanol
Joseph & Norinsburg logo color
FREE CONSULTATION
212-227-5700

Brooklyn Workplace Sexual Harassment Lawyer

FREE CASE EVALUATION
brooklyn sexual harassment lawyer
OVER
$200+ MILLION

recovered for our employment law cases

Key Takeaways
  • Workers in Brooklyn have a legal right to a workplace free of sexual harassment.
  • Federal, state, and local laws require employers to address and prevent sexual harassment and prohibit retaliation against workers who report it.
  • Workplace sexual harassment can be verbal, physical, visual, or digital, and can occur in and outside a traditional office.
  • The sooner you begin taking action against workplace sexual harassment, the better your chances of succeeding.
  • The trusted Brooklyn workplace sexual harassment lawyers at Joseph & Norinsberg can help you hold your employer accountable and get justice.

Whether it’s obvious or understated, workplace sexual harassment can become a significant source of stress, anxiety, and trauma. You might feel confused and uncertain about whether your colleague’s uncomfortable behavior “counts” as sexual harassment, or fearful of reprisal after a supervisor makes inappropriate advances.

Thankfully, New York provides strong legal protections for employees facing workplace sexual harassment in Brooklyn. The right attorney can determine whether you’re eligible for a claim, explain your legal rights, and help you plan your next steps. At Joseph & Norinsberg, our trusted Brooklyn workplace sexual harassment lawyers have the experience, compassion, and work ethic to get the justice you deserve.

Table of Contents

Can Employers Allow Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?

No, companies cannot tolerate workplace sexual harassment. Once your employer is aware of or should be aware of harassment, it becomes legally responsible for it. Failing to investigate or prevent workplace harassment is itself a violation of the law.

At the federal level, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that workplace harassment is illegal employment discrimination. Meanwhile, the New York State Human Rights Law and the NYC Human Rights Law provide even stronger protections for workers in Brooklyn.

How Does Workplace Sexual Harassment Occur?

There are generally two types of sexual harassment: quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when someone in a position of authority, such as a manager or supervisor, solicits sexual activity in exchange for a job-related benefit or under the threat of an adverse job condition. Meanwhile, a hostile work environment arises when unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature creates an uncomfortable atmosphere that can negatively impact a worker’s job performance, confidence, or overall well-being.

Many types of behavior may amount to workplace sexual harassment. Any unwelcome conduct based on sex, gender, or sexual orientation can be considered workplace sexual harassment, whether it’s physical, verbal, visual, or digital.

Some common examples of sexual harassment in the workplace include:

While federal law requires sexual harassment to be “severe or pervasive” to constitute a hostile work environment, New York’s state and local employment laws only require more than a “petty slight or trivial inconvenience” for legal action. Even a single incident of inappropriate behavior can be enough for a workplace sexual harassment claim in Brooklyn.

Workplace harassment protections under these laws apply to every worker, including interns, contractors, and freelancers, and bind all companies regardless of size. Under these laws, it is illegal to retaliate against a worker for reporting or speaking up against workplace sexual harassment, whether through wrongful termination or other employment-related consequences.

Unfortunately, just because it’s illegal to ignore workplace harassment or retaliate against employees doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Many companies attempt to skirt legal protections for workplace sexual harassment in different ways, and recognizing when your employer is breaking the law can be key to preserving your rights and pursuing a successful complaint.

Examples of harassment-related misconduct by employers can include the following:

  • Ignoring or failing to follow up on employee complaints
  • Conducting sham or biased investigations to protect certain employees or cover up incidents
  • Firing, demoting, cutting hours, or otherwise retaliating against workers who report harassment
  • Allowing repeat offenders to remain in the workplace
  • Pressuring employees to stay silent after experiencing harassment

Common Signs You Have Been Sexually Harassed at Work

Many workers doubt themselves after experiencing sexual harassment, second-guessing whether the conduct was bad enough to consider reporting. It’s possible not to recognize certain behavior as workplace sexual harassment until later, despite feeling uncomfortable or isolated because of it. However, how your employer or coworkers respond to reports of harassment can often confirm or support your suspicions.

Some common indicators of workplace sexual harassment include:

  • Feeling anxious or fearful at work or when thinking of work
  • Feeling pressured to tolerate sexual or inappropriate behavior by others
  • Receiving no response after reporting misconduct
  • Being treated differently or punished after speaking up about harassment
  • Seeing misconduct continue without accountability after reporting it

What Compensation Can You Recover After Workplace Sexual Harassment in Brooklyn?

The type and value of compensation you can recover for workplace sexual harassment depend on the unique facts of your case. Compensation in harassment cases aims to make a victim whole. Thus, your recovery depends on how severe the harassment was and how it has affected your life.

Types of damages for which you can pursue compensation in a Brooklyn workplace sexual harassment claim include the following:

  • Back pay for lost wages and benefits
  • Front pay for future wages and benefits, if you lost or left your job as a result of the harassment
  • Emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues
  • Medical bills and therapy costs
  • Punitive damages, in some rare and extreme cases
  • Attorney’s fees

What Is the Time Limit to File a Sexual Harassment Claim in New York?

The statute of limitations for filing a workplace sexual harassment claim depends on the law under which you seek relief. If you are filing a claim under New York state or local law, you must file suit in court or submit a claim to the New York State Division of Human Rights or the New York City Commission on Human Rights within three years. However, you only have 180 days to file a complaint under federal law with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but that deadline is extended to 300 days if a state or local anti-discrimination law covers your charge.

Filing deadlines aside, waiting too long to pursue a workplace sexual harassment claim can weaken it over time, as memories fade and evidence becomes harder to access. It’s important to get started on your case as soon as possible.

Why Choose Our Brooklyn Workplace Sexual Harassment Lawyers

With over 75 years of collective legal experience fighting for the rights of workers like you, the Joseph & Norinsberg team has an intimate understanding of New York state and city harassment laws. Our skilled Brooklyn workplace sexual harassment attorneys meticulously prepare every case, leveraging their knowledge and work ethic to fight for the underdog.

We’re dedicated to providing compassionate, effective legal representation for vulnerable workers. We’ve built a reputation for relentless advocacy, working tirelessly to secure the justice our clients deserve.

In the workplace, when it's now your paycheck, your ability to feed your family on the line, and you decide to comply, that's the power dynamic at play. And that is sexual harassment. So we handle these cases very aggressively.

Bennitta L. Joseph, Founder and Senior Managing Partner

How Our Workplace Sexual Harassment Attorneys Can Help

When you sit down with our Brooklyn sexual harassment lawyers for a free, no-obligation consultation, you’ll leave with a thorough understanding of your rights as a worker, your next steps, and your legal options. Here’s a step-by-step look at our process for helping you pursue a successful claim:

  1. Evaluation: Your attorney will review the circumstances of your claim and determine whether your rights were violated.
  2. Investigation: We’ll uncover and gather relevant evidence to build your case.
  3. Communication: We’ll help you bring your case to HR, then communicate with your employer and their counsel to reach a resolution.
  4. Filing: Our team will help you file complaints with government agencies to begin external investigations.
  5. Resolution: Your lawyer will either negotiate a settlement or pursue litigation to fight for the results you deserve.

I think that the firm also just brings a certain level of passion and intensity, high energy, to all of the cases that we handle, and we fight for our clients really relentlessly to the bitter end until we get what they deserve.

Jon L. Norinsberg, Founder and Senior Managing Partner

What Our Workplace Sexual Harassment Clients Are Saying

We pride ourselves on fighting relentlessly to get justice for our clients. Here are some of the reviews and testimonials we’ve received from workers we’ve helped:

“Bennitta is an amazing attorney, if you have a sexual harassment case...She's your go-to attorney! Very responsive, answers all your questions in a timely manner, makes sure you're very informed on what you're getting into & what the possible outcomes are.”
– Nigel A.
– Nigel A.
“Very attentive law firm with deep understanding of employment law.”
– Atonio J.
– Atonio J.
“Joseph and Norinsberg are excellent attorneys and a credit to the bar. It is a testament to their advocacy and skill that, as a fellow lawyer, I consistently refer clients to them for help in all workplace and employment-related issues. I have confidence that they will always honor my recommendation with excellent service to the client and unparalleled results. Bennitta and Jon are both smart, persuasive, and dogged advocates who aggressively pursue and safeguard their clients’ interests. Better yet, they are wonderful people. Could not recommend more highly!”
– Christopher G.
– Christopher G.
“I can’t say enough good things about working with Bennitta Joseph! A terrific five-star experience every step of the way!! Thank you for everything and highly recommend!!!”
– C FM
– C FM

Does It Matter Where the Sexual Harassment Happens?

Workplace sexual harassment doesn’t need to happen in a traditional office environment. Legal protections for workplace harassment still apply in other work-related settings, including:

  • Remote work environments
  • Work events, including holiday parties
  • Emails, texts, or other digital communications
  • Job interviews or onboarding orientations
  • Off-site job locations and projects

Getting experienced legal guidance early is key to improving your chances of a successful workplace sexual harassment claim, helping you gather evidence at its strongest and meet any relevant filing deadlines.

If any of the following are happening to you, you should consult a knowledgeable Brooklyn workplace sexual harassment lawyer as soon as possible:

  • You’re experiencing ongoing workplace harassment, sexual or otherwise.
  • Your employer is refusing to take significant action to end the harassment.
  • You’re feeling ostracized by coworkers or managers for speaking up against or expressing discomfort with harassing behaviors.
  • You’re facing retaliation at work for reporting harassment, including termination or forced resignation.
  • You’re unsure where to go for help or what to do next.

Contact Joseph & Norinsberg After Workplace Sexual Harassment in Brooklyn

You deserve a workplace free of harassment. If you need help dealing with sexual harassment at your job, our trusted team is here to help you get justice. We’re committed to protecting the rights of workers like you and holding employers accountable for misconduct.

Contact us online or call (212) 227-5700 today for a free, confidential consultation with our experienced Brooklyn workplace sexual harassment attorneys.

Consult With Our Legal Team

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
SMS

Call us at (212) 227-5700

RELATED PAGES
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
"Very helpful, and responsive lawyers. Highly recommend for employment issues."
Robert Khaimov
"So Happy I went with Joseph & Norinsberg. They were incredibly professional and courteous of my time. I would highly recommend you give them a try!"
Thomas Fazio
"This is one of the best firms you can have backing you- their highly competent and caring attorneys treated me like family and worked tirelessly on my case to help me achieve my desired outcome (which I did)."
Rachel Wellna
"My experience from the beginning with J&N, LLC was handled with compassion and expertise with a thorough knowledge of the law. Follow up and communication when questions arose were swift and precise. I highly recommend this firm to represent you and your particular legal needs!"
Donald Robinson
"Great firm and quality service. Highly recommend them for discrimination and wage issues."
Jordan B
Case Results
$1 MILLION

Settlement against a hospital

$750,000

We successfully fought for 25 cleaning company employees who were underpaid due to their employer’s unethical timekeeping methods.

$600,000

Settlement against an international investment firm for age discrimination and wrongful termination

$375,000

We secured compensation for New Jersey factory workers who were denied sick leave benefits guaranteed by the law.