Me Too Movement in the Workplace
The world is changing for women. Not long ago, a woman risked being “shamed” if she came out openly regarding sexual harassment. As per a recent survey conducted by NPR, almost 66% Americans said that 5 years ago sexual harassment could be brushed under the carpet. But only 26% of Americans think that sexual harassment can be ignored today.
With more and more women coming out in the open against their co-workers and bosses, lawmakers and employers have become more attentive to the needs of women. Gone are the days when women were silenced because of shame. Millions of people have supported the #METOO movement showing extraordinary solidarity which was not there before.
If you are a victim of workplace sexual harassment, then it is time for you to you hire a successful and aggressive sexual harassment attorney. The Emre Polat Employment Attorneys helps victims pursue aggressive litigation to protect their rights.
A Paradigm Shift in Justice for Women
Sexual harassment victims in the past were often made to leave their jobs and paid a quiet settlement. This compensation combined with non-disclosure agreements ensured that victims stayed quiet. Among the recent examples of quiet payouts are those of Fox and Weinstein.
However, things are changing now. A quiet arrangement with a sexual harassment victim is not enough. A sudden change in career and lifestyle, not to mention the mental and physical trauma which takes a toll on person’s life is becoming center-stage. It is unfair to have a victim change his or her place of work simply because a person higher up the hierarchy could not behave.
Today, a growing number of CEOs and management boards are taking note of this change. With public outrage and increased solidarity, employers are finding it difficult to brush off an incident with a quiet payout. This can be seen in the sudden increase in forced resignations and firing of men in positions of leadership.
For years companies and top management have been intolerant of fraudulent activities and corruption at the workplace. It is time that they start dealing with workplace sexual harassment and abuse in much the same way – by removing the violators with no severance and helping victims pursue legal recourse.
That said, it is impossible for quiet settlements to be stopped completely. Many companies continue to practice the old habit of trying to silence a sexual harassment victim by giving out a payout and forcing a resignation in return. Victims should speak proven sexual harassment attorney Emre Polat who is specialist for such cases.
It would be unfair to say that every sexual harassment claim is 100% credible. Humans are prone to making mistakes and exaggerating the truth at times. The firing of an employee on the word of another has its own risks and is just not wise. To be on the safe side, every sexual harassment case, if it is being settled out of court, should be analyzed properly and subjected to fair legal procedures.
Today, more people than ever before are raising voices against sexual harassment and asking for fair practices and credible assessments of sexual harassment cases.
One of the preventive steps for an employer should be to set up a designated harassment protocol or guidelines to look into employee complaints as per the guidelines mentioned in standard sexual harassment policies. New York and New Jersey sexual harassment lawyer like Emre Polat can also help in this regard. Organizations should also set up training programs to educate employees on company guidelines regarding sexual misconduct.
What to Expect in Work Environments Now?
Today’s employees have an increased awareness about sexual misconduct and harassment. With many movements aimed at gender equality, men and women are on the same page in a large number of cases. However, there are random incidents when toxic stereotypes of masculinity and femininity creep into a work place.
More and more employers and organizations put systems into place to minimize the incidence of sexual harassment. This is just the prudent thing to do. No organization should assume everyone is on the same page and everyone understands the issues. This is to ensure that co-workers of opposite sex co-exist in a more open and safe environment.
Ask for Help
The Emre Polat Employment Attorneys is here to help you if you find your organization with a sexual harassment case. Emre Polat is knowledgeable and experienced in handling sensitive harassment cases. Our attorneys have the clear capacity to work in this field which involves the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), New York State Division of Human Rights, Federal District Court and New York State Courts where sexual harassment is concerned.
Give a call at (212) 480-4500 to book a free initial consultation. We also provide advice in preventing harassment and properly responding to a lawsuit.
If you are a victim of workplace sexual harassment, then Emre Polat can help you seek and obtain justice. Fill out this online form to book a confidential consultation or simply give us a call.