Workplace Harassment Attorneys California

California employees are protected by some of the strongest anti-harassment laws in the nation. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes it unlawful for an employer, supervisor, coworker, or even a third party such as a client or vendor to harass an employee because of a protected characteristic. These protections apply to employers with five or more employees and cover conduct that creates a hostile, intimidating, or abusive environment or that conditions job benefits on submission to harassment.

What qualifies as workplace harassment?

Harassment is more than occasional rude or insensitive comments. To be unlawful under FEHA, the conduct must be unwelcome and either severe or pervasive enough to alter the conditions of employment and create a hostile or offensive environment. Harassment can take verbal, physical, or visual forms and can come from supervisors, coworkers, or non-employees if the employer knows about it and fails to act.

• Hostile work environment: Repeated jokes, slurs, derogatory comments, or other conduct that interferes with an employee’s ability to perform their job.
• Sexual harassment: Quid pro quo demands for sexual favors in exchange for job benefits or pervasive sexual behavior that creates an abusive environment.
• Retaliatory harassment: Intimidation, discipline, or exclusion that follows when an employee reports misconduct or participates in an investigation.
• Third-party harassment: Inappropriate conduct by clients, customers, or vendors when the employer fails to intervene.

Legal protections for California employees

Both state and federal laws prohibit workplace harassment, but FEHA provides broader coverage than Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Unlike federal law, FEHA applies to smaller employers and recognizes a wider range of protected characteristics, including gender identity, sexual orientation, medical condition, and marital status. Under both systems, employees are also protected against retaliation for reporting harassment or supporting another employee’s claim.

What to do if you experience harassment

If you are facing harassment at work, taking immediate steps to protect your rights is critical:

• Document incidents: Keep a written record of dates, times, locations, and individuals involved, including any witnesses.
• Save communications: Preserve emails, texts, performance reviews, or HR responses that may demonstrate harassment or retaliation.
• Report internally: Notify a supervisor or human resources department in writing to trigger the employer’s duty to respond.
• Seek legal advice early: Contact an experienced California workplace harassment attorney to review your options under FEHA and federal law.

Available remedies under California law

Employees who prove harassment claims may be entitled to significant relief. Remedies are designed both to compensate the victim and to hold employers accountable for unlawful conduct. Potential outcomes include:

• Compensation for lost wages and benefits caused by termination, demotion, or reduced hours.
• Emotional distress damages for the stress, anxiety, and psychological harm caused by harassment.
• Punitive damages in cases of egregious misconduct or employer indifference, designed to punish and deter future violations.
• Equitable relief such as reinstatement, policy revisions, or mandatory training to prevent future harassment.
• Attorney’s fees and costs under FEHA’s fee-shifting provisions.

Why legal representation matters

Employers often deny responsibility for harassment or argue that the conduct was not severe enough to be illegal. Proving a harassment case requires careful evidence gathering and a strong legal strategy. At Miracle Mile Law Group, we represent employees exclusively and are deeply experienced in litigating harassment claims under California law. Our attorneys have secured significant results for clients and even helped establish binding case law that expands employee protections across the state.

At Miracle Mile Law Group, we believe every employee has the right to work in an environment free from harassment. Unfortunately, workplace harassment continues to affect employees across industries, often creating toxic, stressful, and unsafe work conditions. Our team is dedicated to defending employees who have faced harassment, holding employers accountable, and ensuring that unlawful behavior is addressed.

Workplace harassment involves any unwelcome behavior that targets an employee based on a protected characteristic such as race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or other personal attributes. This behavior can take many forms, including verbal, physical, or visual conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

Under California law, workplace harassment is illegal, and employers have a responsibility to prevent and address such behavior promptly. Two significant forms of workplace harassment that employees often face are Hostile Work Environment and Sexual Harassment.

Hostile Work Environment

A hostile work environment occurs when an employee experiences repeated, unwanted behavior that makes it difficult or impossible for them to perform their job. This harassment can include offensive remarks, discriminatory comments, or other behaviors that target the employee based on their protected characteristics. In a hostile work environment, the behavior must be severe or pervasive enough to create a work atmosphere that a reasonable person would consider intimidating or abusive.

Examples of hostile work environment harassment include:

• Persistent, offensive jokes or comments based on race, gender, religion, or other personal traits
• Displays of offensive or discriminatory images or materials
• Exclusion from work activities or opportunities due to discriminatory motives
• Repeated verbal or physical threats or intimidation

At Miracle Mile Law Group, we understand the toll a hostile work environment can take on your mental and emotional well-being. We fight for employees who endure this behavior, working to hold employers accountable for allowing a toxic atmosphere.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is one of the most recognized forms of workplace harassment and can take two main forms:

• Quid Pro Quo Harassment: This occurs when employment decisions (such as promotions or raises) are based on the employee’s submission to unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors.
• Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment: This involves pervasive, unwanted sexual behavior or comments that make the workplace intimidating, offensive, or abusive.

Sexual harassment can include:

• Unwanted sexual advances or propositions
• Inappropriate touching or physical contact
• Lewd comments, jokes, or gestures
• Display of sexually explicit images or materials
• Repeated, unwelcome flirtation or communication of a sexual nature

California law provides strong protections for employees facing sexual harassment, and employers are required to take immediate action to stop this behavior. If your employer fails to address sexual harassment complaints, Miracle Mile Law Group will step in to ensure your rights are protected and that you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.

Our experienced team of employment attorneys will:

• Provide a free consultation to evaluate your case
• Guide you through the legal process and help you understand your rights
• Gather evidence and build a strong case against the employer
• Negotiate with the employer for a fair resolution or represent you at trial if necessary
• Seek compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages

California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) offers broad protections against workplace harassment. Whether you are facing harassment from a supervisor, coworker, or even a client, you have the right to work in an environment free from hostility and inappropriate conduct. Employers must not only take steps to prevent harassment but also respond promptly and effectively when complaints arise.

If you report harassment and face retaliation, such as being demoted, fired, or treated unfairly, this is also illegal, and you are entitled to seek legal action.

Miracle Mile Law Group has attorneys experienced in employment law that can walk you through all of the steps you need to know to prepare you for suing your employer to receive the maximum compensation you deserve as a California employee that has faced workplace harassment.

If you’ve experienced any form of workplace harassment, including a hostile work environment or sexual harassment, don’t wait to take action. Miracle Mile Law Group is here to fight for your rights and ensure that employers are held accountable for creating safe, respectful workplaces.

Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us help you get the justice you deserve.