No one deserves to feel unsafe or devalued at work. If you’ve faced unwanted sexual advances, jokes, or touching at your job, you’re not alone—and you have legal options.
A San Diego sexual harassment lawyer can help you stand up to injustice in the workplace. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your career or mental health to protect someone else’s power.
Our San Diego employment lawyers at Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys will take your case seriously. We care about the outcome, but we care even more about how you’re treated along the way. Reach out for a free, confidential consultation.
What Counts as Sexual Harassment at Work?
Sexual harassment is more than one bad joke or an awkward comment. Under California law, it becomes harassment when the behavior creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment. It also includes any request for sexual favors tied to your job.
Examples include:
- Repeated sexual jokes or comments
- Inappropriate touching
- Staring or leering
- Sharing explicit content
- Pressure to go on dates
- Threats to your job if you don’t comply
It doesn’t matter whether the harassment comes from a supervisor, coworker, or even a client. What matters is how it affects your ability to feel safe and respected at work.
Harassment doesn’t have to be obvious or public. It can be quiet, private, and persistent. Sometimes it hides under the surface of jokes, compliments, or innuendos. If it makes you uncomfortable and interferes with your ability to work, it deserves attention.
San Diego, CA, Laws Protecting You at Work
California has some of the strongest workplace protections in the country. The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes it illegal to harass someone based on sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. This law applies to any business with five or more employees.
Your employer must take steps to prevent harassment, such as providing training and having a clear reporting process. If they ignore complaints or retaliate against you for speaking up, they can be held accountable.
A San Diego sexual harassment attorney can help you use these laws to protect your job and your rights. Many victims stay silent because they fear retaliation. That fear is valid—but retaliation is illegal, too. If your employer punishes you for reporting harassment, we can hold them responsible.
What to Do If You’ve Been Sexually Harassed in San Diego
You may feel nervous or unsure about what to do next. That’s completely normal. Here’s what we recommend:
- Document everything: Save emails, texts, and messages. Write down dates, names, and what happened.
- Report it: Follow your company’s HR procedure. If there isn’t one, put your complaint in writing to a supervisor.
- Get legal support: A San Diego sexual harassment lawyer can review your situation and help you plan your next step.
You don’t need to wait until things get worse. In fact, speaking to a lawyer early can help protect your rights before your employer takes action against you.
You may also want to talk to a therapist or counselor. Sexual harassment can leave lasting emotional scars. Your mental health matters, and seeking support doesn’t make you weak—it makes you stronger.
Legal Options After Sexual Harassment
There are a few different paths you can take, depending on your goals and what happened at work:
- Internal complaint: Some cases resolve through HR, but many do not.
- DFEH/EEOC complaint: You can file with the California Civil Rights Department (formerly DFEH) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
- Civil lawsuit: If internal and agency options fail or cause further harm, filing a lawsuit may be the best way forward.
Each option has different timelines and requirements. A San Diego sexual harassment attorney can walk you through the pros and cons of each.
Our job isn’t to tell you what to do. It’s to give you the tools and information to make the best choice for yourself. No one should pressure you into staying silent or taking a deal that doesn’t reflect what you’ve suffered.
Holding Employers Accountable
Employers have a legal and moral duty to maintain a safe workplace. That includes stopping sexual harassment before it begins and taking real action when it happens. Too many companies look the other way.
We don’t. Omega Law Group investigates every detail, tracks down patterns of abuse, and shines a light on the misconduct they try to hide. We fight not just for compensation, but for change. Your case could prevent someone else from going through the same thing.
We know these cases are personal. You might be dealing with embarrassment, fear, shame, or anger. Whatever you’re feeling, we take it seriously. Our team handles each case with care, compassion, and focus.
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Damages You May Be Entitled To
The law allows victims of sexual harassment to recover damages for the harm they’ve suffered. That includes:
- Lost wages or benefits
- Emotional distress
- Costs of therapy or medical treatment
- Punitive damages if the conduct was especially severe
- Legal fees
You deserve to be made whole. A San Diego sexual harassment lawyer can help calculate the full impact of what you’ve gone through.
Punitive damages don’t just punish bad behavior—they send a message. They tell employers and individuals that harassment has consequences, and victims are no longer staying quiet.
How Long Do You Have to File a Sexual Harassment Claim in California?
California’s deadline to file a complaint with the Civil Rights Department is three years from the last act of harassment or retaliation. If you plan to file a civil lawsuit, you usually must first obtain a Right to Sue letter.
A Right to Sue letter is a document issued by the Civil Rights Department that gives you permission to take your case to court after completing the administrative process. It confirms that you’ve met the state’s filing requirements and allows you to move forward with a lawsuit.
Some deadlines may shift depending on the details of your case. A San Diego sexual harassment lawyer can review your timeline and make sure you don’t miss your window to act.
Speak with a San Diego Sexual Harassment Attorney Who Listens
We don’t back down from uncomfortable truths. If your employer swept this under the rug, we’ll lift the rug. If they retaliated, we’ll make sure that’s part of the story.
You’ll always know what’s happening with your case. You’ll always be treated with respect. And you’ll always have a team that fights like it happened to someone we care about.
Talk to a San Diego sexual harassment attorney today. Omega Law Group will help you understand your rights, your options, and how to move forward. Call now for a free, confidential consultation.
