Committed New Jersey Sexual Harassment Lawyers Represent Workers

Skilled Hackensack litigators pursue maximum compensation for clients

Sexual harassment in the workplace is not just demeaning — it is against the law. At Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in Hackensack, we aggressively pursue relief for New Jersey employees subjected to this kind of mistreatment and work tirelessly to hold wrongdoers accountable. Sexual harassment directly assaults a person’s dignity. Employees may be subjected to a hostile sexually charged work environment, may be pressured into performing sexual acts against their will, or may be punished for refusing to submit to sexual advances. Acts motivated by gender or sex may create unwanted and offensive attention, embarrass employees or make the workplace intolerable.

Accomplished law firm litigates all types of sexual harassment

As one of New Jersey’s largest plaintiff-side employment law firms, we have successfully litigated claims on behalf of personnel at all levels, including executives, directors and officers. We handle sexual harassment suits involving:

• Quid pro quo advances — This type of sexual harassment can include threats of negative job actions or offers of extra benefits in exchange for sexual attention. In quid pro quo cases, we represent employees who have faced pressure to satisfy a supervisor’s sexual demands, been punished for rejecting advances, or mistreated after ending a consensual relationship.
• Hostile work environment— Severe or pervasive offensive conduct that is sexual or motivated by gender can create a hostile work environment. These claims can stem from misconduct from a co-worker or supervisor and may involve language, pictures, gestures, touching or other offensive behavior.
• Retaliation— Your employer cannot punish you for objecting to or complaining about sexual harassment, even if you complain verbally to an agent of the employer. If you are fired, suspended, demoted, denied an earned raise, harassed or suffer any other retaliatory job action, our discrimination attorneys can help you seek justice.

We have the knowledge and resources to take on powerful interests during administrative proceedings and in court. Our attorneys have obtained substantial compensation for workers.

Legal protections against workplace harassment

It may be more beneficial to pursue a claim under state law, as opposed to federal law. New Jersey offers more protections than federal law in regard to:

• Types of harassment — The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) considers sexual harassment to be a form of gender-based discrimination. Sexual harassment may involve verbal, visual, physical or digital contact.
• Employer intervention — Once your employer is aware, or should be aware, that sexual harassment is occurring, they are legally obligated to try to stop it and prevent future harassment.
• Size of employer — While federal law only allows complaints against employers with at least 15 employees, New Jersey employers of all sizes are bound by the LAD.
• Type of employment — The LAD provides protections for employees and independent contractors, the latter of which are not protected by federal employment discrimination laws.

For assistance dealing with on-the-job sexual harassment, enlist an employment attorney.

Steps to take when experiencing sexual harassment

If you are subjected to sexual harassment at work, you can take several steps to bolster your case. Make sure you:

• Tell the harasser(s) to stop the unwelcome treatment
• Report the incident to your manager, a human resources representative and the harasser’s manager(s) and consider making the report in writing
• Specify that you are experiencing sexual harassment, which is illegal
• Create a journal documenting events as they occur
• Follow up verbal statements with written correspondence, such as email

If these actions do not end the problem, contact a New Jersey sexual harassment attorney immediately. We offer guidance to help end the conduct and protect your rights.

Evidence supporting harassment claims

Different types of evidence may be used to prove that sexual harassment occurred at work. Third-party witness testimony may be powerful but might not be available. If you can, document the following:

• Date, time and location of each instance of harassment
• Exact words or actions that occurred
• Any bystanders or potential witnesses
• Dated screenshots or printouts of emails, text messages, direct messages or social media posts
• Records of any complaints filed with a supervisor or HR representative

In New Jersey, it is legal to create a recording with the consent of just one party: yourself. If you can safely record audio or video of the harassment, save the recording to a personal phone or computer.

Remedies available to victims of sexual harassment in NJ

A variety of remedies are available to victims of sexual harassment, such as compensation for economic losses and emotional distress. In cases of extreme misbehavior, punitive damages might be awarded. Under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, there are no statutory limits on the amount a plaintiff can recover.

The statute of limitations for filing a sexual harassment claim against a New Jersey employer is two years from the date of harassment. If you were subjected to sexual harassment, contact an attorney promptly to build your case while evidence is fresh.

Contact a dedicated New Jersey sexual harassment lawyer for a confidential consultation

The attorneys of Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in Hackensack represent New Jersey claimants in sexual harassment cases and other employment matters. To schedule a consultation with a committed sexual harassment attorney, call 551-245-8894 or contact us online. We also have offices in Manhattan and Pearl River, New York.