Burbank Sexual Harassment Lawyer

You deserve a workplace where you feel safe and can focus on your job. A work environment is no place for inappropriate comments or unwanted advances. For many people living in Burbank, workplace sexual harassment forces them to choose between their dignity and their livelihood. If you experience unwanted behavior at your job, a Burbank sexual harassment lawyer can protect you and pursue justice on your behalf.

Understanding Sexual Harassment in Burbank

If you’re uncertain about what type of harassment you’re experiencing, learning the difference between harassment and sexual harassment in Burbank helps you understand your rights. Harassment is any unwelcome behavior based on a protected characteristic, such as race, disability, gender, religion, or age, that creates a hostile or abusive work environment.

Sexual harassment includes sexual conduct, comments, advances, or behaviors that are unwelcome. This type of harassment may be directed toward someone because of their sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or similar characteristics. According to the 2023 HRAcuity Workplace Misconduct Insights Report, 40% of U.S. Employees reported experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment in the workplace.

Under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), sexual harassment occurs through words, actions, visual materials, or physical conduct. It comes not just from supervisors, but also from coworkers, clients, or anyone else you interact with at work. Whether it happens once or builds over time, California law gives you the right to take action.

What Counts as Sexual Harassment Under California Law?

California recognizes two main types of workplace sexual harassment: hostile work environment harassment and quid pro quo harassment.

Hostile work environment harassment happens when unwanted sexual conduct becomes pervasive enough that it negatively alters your work environment. Examples of this type of sexual harassment include:

• Lewd or suggestive comments
• Unwanted touching or physical closeness
• Repeated requests for dates
• Comments about your body, gender, or appearance

Quid pro quo harassment occurs when your boss offers benefits only if you agree to their sexual demands. Examples of this type of sexual harassment include:

• A supervisor offering a promotion in exchange for a date
• A manager offering better shifts for sexual favors
• An employer promising job security for romantic attention
• A shift supervisor cutting hours after sexual requests are refused

In 2023, the California Civil Rights Department received 470 sexual harassment complaints. This number shows how many workers still face unsafe conditions, making legal protections essential. California’s sexual harassment laws are intentionally broad to protect workers from unwanted misconduct.

Can You Prove Your Harassment Case?

Sexually-based harassment cases in California are built on the totality of circumstances, not which side has more evidence. Victims are not required to provide a recording, explicit messages, or an eyewitness willing to step forward. What matters is that your attorney builds a credible account with whatever evidence exists.

In 2022, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission analysis found that 43.5% of all sexual harassment charges were filed together with a retaliation claim. These sexual harassment statistics highlight just how often workers who report sexual harassment face dangerous consequences. Hiring a Burbank sexual harassment attorney ensures a strong case and that you stand with confidence.

Although not strictly required by California law, the following are examples of evidence that can strengthen your case:

• Proof of the harassing behavior, such as documented emails, text messages, or screenshots showing unwelcome conduct
• Proof that the employer knew or should have known, including policies, complaint records, HR notes, or management responses
• Proof of how the harassment affected your work, like demotions, negative performance reviews, or termination after speaking up
• Credible supporting accounts from witnesses or coworkers who observed the behavior or can confirm the pattern

Why You Should Hire a Sexual Harassment Lawyer

Pursuing a workplace discrimination or harassment case can feel overwhelming, especially when your income and reputation are on the line. Remember, you are not alone, and we can help. Hire a sexual harassment lawyer in Burbank with a strong understanding of California’s FEHA who is willing to step in when harassment, retaliation, or intimidation threatens your job and well-being.

At MM Law, Maralle Messrelian brings extensive trial and litigation experience to Burbank clients facing these painful employment law situations. Whether you work in entertainment, hospitality, aviation, post-production, or any of Burbank’s many studio corridors, Maralle and her team offer compassionate support to help you feel understood and protected.

We limit our caseload so every client receives personal attention and is never left feeling alone or ignored. Let our team stand with you. Contact us now to ensure justice and the resolution you deserve.

FAQs

What Type of Evidence Is Required for a Sexual Harassment Claim?

The evidence required for a sexual harassment claim is anything helpful in showing your work-life experience. Provide your attorney with any notes you kept, proof of patterns in scheduling changes, behaviors of coworkers before and after you reported concerns, or even the way certain conversations made you feel. Anything is useful. Your attorney takes these small details and builds your case into a larger, credible claim.

How Hard Is It to Win a Sexual Harassment Case in Burbank, CA?

Winning a sexual harassment case in Burbank, CA, depends on the quality of your evidence, the frequency or severity of the conduct, and whether your employer took proper action. With a strong, factual record and an experienced attorney, it’s possible for a case to resolve through settlement before ever reaching trial. Many cases are settled this way.

What Qualifies as Harassment in Burbank, CA?

Any behavior targeting you because of a protected characteristic qualifies as harassment case in Burbank, CA. Additionally, experiences or events that shift your environment from professional to uncomfortable, demeaning, or intimidating may also qualify. Regardless of whether you experience a single incident or repeated unwanted behavior, your case may qualify. California workplace sexual harassment laws focus on impact, not formality.

What Is the Difference Between Harassment and Sexual Harassment?

Understanding the difference between harassment and sexual harassment is easier than you might think. Harassment is unwelcome behavior against a person because of a protected trait like race, gender identity, disability, or religion. Sexual harassment focuses on conduct tied to sex or gender. Examples of sexual harassment include unwanted sexual content, comments about your sexuality, or pressure for a sexual encounter.

Hire a Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Burbank Today

You don’t have to handle workplace harassment alone. If you are experiencing unwanted advances, retaliation, or a hostile work environment in Burbank, the team at MM Law is ready to help. Contact us today and take the first step toward protecting your rights and ensuring your safety at work.