San Francisco Sexual Harassment Attorney

Workplace sexual harassment remains one of the most damaging experiences an employee can face on the job. It can chip away at your confidence, disrupt your career, and leave lasting emotional scars. Yet many employees stay silent, unsure of their rights or afraid of retaliation from their employer.

The truth is, no one should have to tolerate unwanted sexual conduct simply to keep a paycheck. California law offers strong protections for workers who experience harassment, and understanding these protections is the first step toward reclaiming a safe workplace.

If you are being sexually harassed at work, the Law Offices of Alan F. Cohen can help. We understand the trauma that comes with being made to feel uncomfortable or even unsafe in your own workplace. Our approach incorporates trauma-informed legal advocacy. We work hard to create a safe, respectful, and compassionate space in which you will be heard. We help hard-working people navigate California’s complex employment laws to pursue justice. If you feel that you are experiencing sexual harassment on the job, turn to a law firm you can trust.

Clients We Serve

Sexual harassment can show up in many different ways, and no two cases look exactly alike. Our attorney represents employees across a wide range of circumstances, including those dealing with the following situations:

• Employees facing unwanted sexual conduct: You are dealing with unwelcome comments, flirting, jokes, invitations, staring, gestures, images, texts, or direct messages of a sexual nature at work. This may also include unwanted touching, groping, kissing, cornering, or other physical misconduct.
• Employees whose employer ignored their complaint: You reported unwanted sexual conduct to human resources, a manager, or another supervisor, but the employer minimized your complaint, delayed taking action, or allowed the harassment to continue.
• Employees facing harassment tied to sexual orientation or gender identity: You are experiencing unwanted sexual comments, advances, touching, or other sexual conduct connected to your sexual orientation or gender identity. This can include harassment from someone of the same sex, even if you are unsure whether it counts as workplace sexual harassment.

If any of these situations sound familiar, you do not have to figure out your next move alone. We can help you understand whether what you experienced qualifies as illegal harassment under California law and what options you have.

Identifying Sexual Harassment

While sexual harassment can come in many forms, California’s employment laws recognize two main types of illegal sexual harassment and workplace discrimination:

Quid pro quo: This type of harassment is described by a Latin phrase meaning “this for that.” Quid pro quo harassment involves making an employee feel obligated to comply with a sexual act or behavior in exchange for receiving benefits or avoiding punishment in the workplace.

Hostile Work Environment: A hostile work environment is created when an employee is subjected to harmful treatment because of sex that is severe or pervasive. The employee may feel threatened, intimidated, and frightened. Some examples of behaviors that can create a hostile work environment include:

• Making discriminatory comments based on sex, gender, or appearance
• Inappropriate and unnecessary touching
• Sexually offensive jokes or comments
• Displaying offensive pictures
• Using crude language

Any of these or similar activities could give rise to a hostile work environment. Sexual harassment is not any one type of behavior and may take many forms. If you feel unsafe or mistreated at work because of sex, our experienced employment law attorney may be able to help you take action.

Proving a Sexual Harassment Case

Not all abusive behavior is considered “actionable.” You must be able to show that the mistreatment is related to your sex (or other protected characteristic – for example, harassment because of a disability is also illegal). In order to file a sexual harassment claim, employees must be able to show evidence of the following.

• The conduct was because of the employee’s sex.
• The conduct was unwelcome by the employee.
• The conduct was severe or pervasive enough that any reasonable person in the same position would also find the circumstances hostile, intimidating, offensive, or abusive.

Analyzing and prosecuting these cases can be extremely complicated. For example, employers often claim the harassment was “welcome” because the employee felt forced to play along or did not complain. This argument ignores the real world, in which employees may lack the power or agency to act differently. Sophisticated counsel experienced in these areas knows how to navigate such issues and advocate for the employee.

We empower our clients to tell their true story and give them the support and the tools to allow their voices to be heard. Employees should seek legal representation as soon as they can. Your attorney can help you create a record of the unlawful behavior and take the steps necessary to best protect your rights. Employers have Human Resources departments to protect themselves, not necessarily to protect their employees. You should have someone on your side who can protect your interests. We can show you how to document the harassment in detail to have proof that it occurred and how to avoid missteps that can weaken your position.

What to Expect When Filing a Claim

If you believe you have experienced sexual harassment, here is a general outline of the process we follow:

• Free initial consultation: We start by learning about your situation and reviewing the details of what happened.
• Case evaluation: Our attorney examines the facts, identifies the relevant laws, and builds a strategy suited to your goals.
• Documentation support: We help you organize evidence, including emails, messages, witness accounts, and records of any complaints filed with human resources.
• Negotiation: Whenever possible, we work to resolve the case through negotiation, aiming for a fair outcome without the stress of a prolonged legal battle.
• Litigation, if necessary: If negotiation does not lead to a fair resolution, we prepare to take your case to trial, no matter how large or well-resourced the opposing side may be.

Every case moves through these stages differently, depending on the specific facts involved and how your employer responds along the way. Our job is to keep you informed and give you a real sense of your best next steps at every stage.

Why Choose the Law Offices of Alan F. Cohen?

Choosing the right attorney matters, especially in a case as personal as workplace sexual harassment. Here is what sets our firm apart:

Decades of focused experience. Alan Cohen has represented employees in California for over 25 years, including securing a $2.1 million result in a sexual harassment case. That experience means we know how these cases unfold and how employers and their legal teams typically respond.

A trauma-informed approach. We recognize the toll harassment takes on our clients, and we work to create a space where you feel heard, respected, and supported throughout the process.

A record of results. We have recovered millions of dollars for employees across California, and we do not back down when facing large corporations or their legal teams.

Personal attention. From fast-food workers to CEOs, we have represented employees at every level of the workforce, and every client receives direct, individualized attention.

Contact An Attorney Today

Sexual harassment at work is never something you have to accept or handle alone. Whether you are dealing with unwanted advances, a hostile work environment, or an employer who failed to act on your complaint, California law gives you the right to hold your employer accountable.

The Law Offices of Alan F. Cohen helps you understand your options and decide on your best path forward. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can help you build a record of what happened and protect your rights moving forward. Schedule a free case evaluation today.

FAQs About Sexual Harassment in California