CALIFORNIA EMPLOYEE SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWS

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) states that employer sexual harassment is employer harassment based on sex or of a sexual nature; gender harassment; and harassment based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Employer sexual harassment includes many forms of offensive behavior, such as harassment of a person of the same gender as the harasser. Under the FEHA, employer sexual harassment includes but is not limited to: unwanted sexual advances; offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors; actual or threatened retaliation; leering; making sexual gestures; or displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, or posters; making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes; sexual comments including graphic comments about an individual's body; sexually degrading words used to describe an individual; or suggestive or obscene letters, or invitations; and physical touching or assault, as well as impeding or blocking movements. The information in this article does not constitute nor is it intended to constitute legal advice. For a free consultation call: Richard D. Freiman Attorney at Law (310)917-1021