Practice Areas
Sexual Harassment
No one should have to endure harassment to keep their job. Sean O'Hara fights to hold employers accountable and protect your rights, your dignity, and your livelihood.
What Is Workplace Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the New York State Human Rights Law and the New York City Human Rights Law. It encompasses unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that affects the terms or conditions of employment.
Harassment does not have to be overtly sexual in nature. It can include offensive remarks about a person's sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Both men and women can be victims, and the harasser can be of any gender.
Types of Sexual Harassment
Quid Pro Quo
Quid pro quo harassment — Latin for "this for that" — occurs when a supervisor or person in authority conditions employment benefits on the submission to sexual demands. This includes offers of promotion, raises, or continued employment in exchange for sexual favors, or threats of demotion, termination, or other adverse action for refusing. Even a single incident can constitute actionable quid pro quo harassment.
Hostile Work Environment
A hostile work environment exists when unwelcome conduct based on sex is so severe or pervasive that it alters the conditions of employment and creates an abusive working environment. This can include sexual jokes, comments, or innuendo; unwanted touching or physical contact; displaying sexually explicit materials; or persistent unwanted attention. The harasser can be a supervisor, coworker, or even a client or customer.
Retaliation
It is illegal for an employer to retaliate against an employee who reports sexual harassment, files a complaint, or participates in an investigation or legal proceeding. Retaliation can take many forms — termination, demotion, reduced hours, a hostile shift in treatment, or being passed over for opportunities. Retaliation claims are often as powerful as the underlying harassment claim itself.
How Having a Lawyer Empowers You
Protecting You From Further Abuse
Once you retain counsel, your employer is on notice that you are represented. This alone often changes the dynamic — harassment frequently stops or diminishes when an employer knows a lawyer is involved. We can also seek emergency injunctive relief when necessary to stop ongoing harassment immediately.
Job Protection
Anti-retaliation laws protect you from being fired, demoted, or otherwise punished for coming forward. We document the timeline, preserve evidence, and put your employer on notice of their legal obligations — creating a record that protects your position and strengthens your case if retaliation occurs.
Financial Recovery
Victims of sexual harassment may be entitled to back pay, front pay, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees. We fight to make you whole — recovering not just lost wages but compensation for the real harm done to your career, your health, and your peace of mind.
Navigating the Process
Filing a harassment claim involves strict deadlines, agency procedures, and complex legal standards. We guide you through every step — from the initial EEOC or NYSDHR charge through litigation if necessary — so you never face the process alone or miss a critical deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
You Deserve to Feel Safe at Work
If you have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, speak with Sean O'Hara today. Your consultation is confidential.
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