Workplace Harassment
California Workplace Harassment Attorneys For Employees
Workplace harassment can make it difficult, or impossible, for an employee to do their job safely and with dignity. In California, unlawful harassment may involve severe or ongoing conduct tied to a protected characteristic, including sex, race, disability, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected status.
Buchsbaum Haag represents employees in workplace harassment matters involving hostile work environments, quid pro quo harassment, retaliation after complaints, and employer failures to stop unlawful conduct. From our office in Long Beach, we serve employees throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California.
Workplace Harassment
California Workplace Harassment Attorneys For Employees
Workplace harassment can make it difficult, or impossible, for an employee to do their job safely and with dignity. In California, unlawful harassment may involve severe or ongoing conduct tied to a protected characteristic, including sex, race, disability, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected status.
Buchsbaum Haag represents employees in workplace harassment matters involving hostile work environments, quid pro quo harassment, retaliation after complaints, and employer failures to stop unlawful conduct. From our office in Long Beach, we serve employees throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California.
Workplace Harassment Claims We Handle
Harassment can come from supervisors, managers, coworkers, clients, customers, or others connected to the workplace. Some cases involve obvious misconduct. Others involve repeated comments, exclusion, intimidation, threats, or unequal treatment that becomes severe enough to affect the employee’s working conditions.
Our attorneys represent employees in matters involving:
Sexual harassment
Sexual orientation harassment
Disability harassment
National origin harassment
Racial harassment
Religious harassment
Gender-based harassment
Hostile work environment claims
Quid pro quo harassment
Retaliation after reporting harassment
Know Your Rights
Workplace harassment is unlawful in California when it is based on a protected characteristic and affects the employee’s working conditions. Harassment may involve a hostile work environment, quid pro quo harassment, sexual harassment, racial harassment, disability harassment, religious harassment, national origin harassment, gender-based harassment, or retaliation after reporting harassment.
California Government Code §12940(j)
Prohibits harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, reproductive health decision-making, and veteran or military status.
This protection may apply to harassment by supervisors, coworkers, and certain nonemployees when the employer knew or should have known about the conduct and failed to take appropriate action.
California Government Code §12940(h)
Prohibits retaliation against employees who report, oppose, or participate in proceedings involving unlawful workplace practices.
A harassment claim often depends on what happened, how often it happened, who was involved, whether the employer knew or should have known, and how the employer responded.
Hostile Work Environment and Quid Pro Quo Harassment
A hostile work environment may exist when harassment becomes severe or pervasive enough to alter working conditions. These cases can involve repeated comments, slurs, unwanted conduct, threats, ridicule, intimidation, or conduct that causes emotional distress and interferes with an employee’s ability to work.
Quid pro quo harassment occurs when a job benefit or workplace decision is tied to submission to harassment. For example, a supervisor may condition a promotion, schedule, assignment, or continued employment on accepting unwanted conduct.
Our Workplace Harassment Claims Process
1. Review
We review what happened, who was involved, whether the conduct was reported, how the employer responded, and what evidence may support the claim.
2. Legal Assessment
We evaluate whether the facts may support claims for harassment or related employment violations.
3. Evidence and Strategy
We assess emails, texts, HR complaints, witness information, performance records, schedules, personnel documents, and any employer investigation.
4. Resolution or Litigation
Some harassment matters resolve through negotiation or settlement. Others require litigation, especially when the employee was fired, forced out, retaliated against, or suffered significant harm.
Potential Outcomes
A workplace harassment matter may result in:
- Lost wages
- Compensation for emotional distress
- Punitive damages where available
- Attorney’s fees where authorized
- Correction of employment records
- Settlement of employment claims
- Policy or workplace changes
- Litigation when settlement is not appropriate
Timelines vary based on the conduct involved, the available evidence, whether the employer investigated, and whether the matter proceeds through negotiation, agency complaint, arbitration, or court litigation.
BH Workplace Harassment Case Results
Buchsbaum Haag attorneys have obtained millions of dollars for employees in harassment, hostile work environment, and retaliation matters. Results include a jury verdict exceeding $100,000 — including punitive damages — for a former Costco employee, and career settlements, awards, and verdicts exceeding $50 million. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Workplace harassment involves unlawful conduct based on a protected characteristic, such as sex, race, disability, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or another protected status.
A hostile work environment may exist when harassment is severe or pervasive enough to interfere with an employee’s ability to work or changes the conditions of employment.
Quid pro quo harassment occurs when a supervisor or employer conditions a job benefit, promotion, assignment, schedule, or continued employment on submission to unwanted conduct.
No. California law protects employees who report, oppose, or participate in investigations involving workplace harassment.
Depending on the facts, employees may seek lost wages, emotional distress damages, punitive damages where available, attorney’s fees where authorized, and other remedies under California law.
Contact Our
Workplace Harassment Lawyers
If you have been harassed at work or punished after reporting harassment, Buchsbaum Haag can evaluate your situation and explain your legal options.
Buchsbaum Haag represents employees in workplace harassment matters throughout Southern California, including Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange County, and surrounding communities. Our office is located in Long Beach.
To arrange a free confidential consultation, call 562-733-2498. Hablamos español.
We handle workplace harassment cases on a contingency basis, which means you do not pay legal fees unless you receive compensation in your case.