Illinois Sexual Harassment Attorneys

Answer: While employers often retaliate against employees for filing sexual harassment lawsuits, there are many state and federal laws that make retaliation illegal. If you file a sexual harassment claim and are subsequently fired, passed over for a raise or promotion, or forced to quit, your employer could face serious consequences.

Answer: No. Sexual harassment can be perpetrated by individuals of any gender or sexual identity against victims of any gender or sexual identity. The Illinois Human Rights Act does not account for gender when it defines sexual harassment as "unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors" in return for employment-related benefits.

Answer: The law in Illinois does not prohibit you from asking a co-worker to go on a date with you. If, however, your co-worker does not agree to go on a date, repeatedly asking the same person could possibly create a sexual harassment situation in the form of a hostile work environment.

Answer: A prior intimate relationship is not an excuse for sexual harassment. Unwanted sexual advances are against the law, regardless of your personal history with the offender. Even if you had consented to a person's advances in the past, you can withdraw your consent at any time, and continued unwanted advances may be considered sexual harassment. You have the right to file a claim with the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A private lawsuit is also possible with the help of an experienced employment discrimination lawyer.

Answer: A compliment regarding your appearance or clothing is not necessarily considered sexual harassment. If the comment does not end there, however, or includes remarks about your body or physical attributes, it could cross the line as a verbal form of sexual harassment. You can ask for any words or actions that make you uncomfortable to stop, and if this behavior continues, you can report it to your employer.

Answer: Somebody else being given a promotion - even your supervisor's significant other - is not sexual harassment. If, however, you were denied the promotion because you refused to comply with sexual requests from your supervisor, you most likely do have a sexual harassment case.

Answer: Depending on the circumstances, pornographic material in the workplace could be a type of sexual harassment. If your co-worker shows you the material or makes explicit or obscene comments, and you feel uncomfortable, you could be the victim of hostile work environment sexual harassment.

Answer: Employers in Illinois have a responsibility to create a safe work environment for all employees. If the joke could have been overheard, another person may have found it offensive, creating a hostile work environment, which is one type of sexual harassment. Telling a sexually charged joke at work may not be appropriate and may violate your company's sexual harassment policy. If these types of jokes or other inappropriate behavior continue, you could face penalties.

Answer: While a customer is not your employer or a supervisor, your employer could be responsible for sexual harassment for knowing the customer's behavior and refusing to address the situation. Under Illinois law, such a case could be considered third-party sexual harassment. Your employer is required to take appropriate actions to protect you against sexual harassment, including addressing inappropriate comments or behavior by customers.

Answer: Sexual harassment can be a criminal offense. An offender could face charges if the behavior includes sexual assault, stalking, or threats of sexual misconduct.