Coping With Sexual Harassment

Attorneys for Sex Harassment Victims in DuPage, Kendall and Will Counties

Not only does sexual harassment take an emotional toll on its victim, but it often has the effect of damaging the victim's career. Learning to cope with the emotional damage and rebuilding your career after filing a lawsuit can seem worse than the harassment itself. However, you should not have to continue working in a hostile environment, and you should be able to address illegal actions taken by your employer or other employees.

Engaging the services of one of the experienced sexual harassment lawyers at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC will help you navigate the legal process, and this can help limit the stress you experience as a result. We will make sure you are informed of your legal options, and we will advise you on the best ways to address the harm you have suffered and move forward with your life after your case has been resolved.

Your Self-Esteem

It is not unusual for a victim of sexual harassment to suffer from a lack of self-esteem. People who have experienced sexual harassment often tend to blame themselves, and they may feel powerless to change the situation. Victims can feel as if they are alone, with no one to back them up. They may feel as if they are being ostracized by their peers or that others believe they are lying.

Victims should not feel alone. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) receives literally thousands of complaints of sexual harassment each year, and roughly 15% of these complaints are filed by men. Even more people file complaints with state agencies. Victims of sexual harassment are not alone in their battle against this type of discrimination. Many support groups, both live and online, exist to assist those who have been the victims of sexual harassment and help them learn how to deal with the effects and begin to rebuild their lives.

Rebuilding Your Career

It is a violation of federal and state law for an employer to retaliate against an employee for complaining of sexual harassment or pursuing a sexual harassment claim. However, retaliation does occur, and it can be difficult to establish the connection between the sexual harassment claim and the retaliation.

If an employee has no choice but to quit because an employer refuses to address discriminatory behavior related to sexual harassment, the employee may be able to make a claim of "constructive discharge." If you do have to change jobs, either because your employer does not remedy the situation or because you feel uncomfortable continuing the employment because of your claim, it is important to understand that future employers cannot discriminate against you because of your prior claim of sexual harassment. Some victims of sexual harassment find career counseling helpful in rebuilding their careers and moving forward with their lives.

Contact Our DuPage County Sexual Harassment Lawyers

Our employment discrimination attorneys know all the applicable laws—those related to employment discrimination and those covered by other legislation. Contact a knowledgeable employment discrimination lawyer at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC to discuss filing an employment discrimination claim. Call 630-665-7300.