Manager-Employee Harassment

Manager-employee harassment is a common setup for harassment cases in New York City, as managers may abuse their power to take advantage of employees. Often, the victims are too afraid of retaliation to speak up because most believe their managers will fire or demote them. However, the law protects employees from negative consequences when they report supervisor harassment or misconduct and a New York City supervisor harassment lawyer.

Types of Manager-Employee Harassment

Employees have heard of sexual harassment in the workplace, but this isn’t the only type of harassment that’s against the law. Harassment is any type of unwelcome, offensive conduct, including words, actions, gestures, and visuals. It can include graphic images posted somewhere or verbally berating an employee based on age. For the law to view conduct as harassment, it has to be so severe that it affects the victim’s employment.

There are different types of harassment one might experience in the workplace based on protected characteristics such as sex, national origin, disability, age, and race. This includes sexual harassment as well as verbal, physical, and even mental harassment. If a manager teases an employee about a disability, for example, this is a form of harassment. Anti-discrimination laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the NYC Human Rights Law make any form of harassment against individuals in the workplace illegal.

Manager-employee harassment can be obvious, such as unwanted touching or grabbing, or more discreet. It can happen publicly, in front of others in the workplace, or in private between two people. Manager-employee harassment can take many forms. Some common examples include:

  • Negative comments about an employee’s physical or mental characteristics
  • Racial slang or words
  • Offensive or vulgar gestures
  • Displaying crude images in the workplace
  • Unwanted sexual advances
  • Inappropriate jokes
  • Veiled threats

Typically in New York City, supervisor harassment comes from a manager abusing his or her power. A manager may believe his or her high position in the workplace allows misconduct or harassment behaviors without consequences. The manager may threaten demotion or job termination if an employee doesn’t comply with sexual favors or promise a promotion or raise in exchange. Many employees don’t realize that harassment doesn’t have to be sexual to report it to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. You should report any conduct that makes your work environment hostile or threatening.

Damages and Compensation for Manager-Employee Harassment Claims

Harassment in the workplace is often more mentally and emotionally damaging to employees than physically damaging. Victims can suffer severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal, and post-traumatic stress disorder. If you’ve suffered any kind of manager-employee harassment in the New York City workplace, you deserve compensation for your physical and/or emotional damages. When you report a New York City sexual harassment claim against a manager in court and win, you’re entitled to recovery for tangible and intangible damages like:

  • Mental and emotional pain and suffering
  • Workers’ compensation benefits for physical damages
  • Unemployment damages
  • Back pay if you missed a raise due to harassment
  • Payment for attorney fees

When a manager is the harasser, he or she is usually subject to “tangible employment action,” meaning the courts will hold the entire company liable. Companies are responsible for the actions of managers while performing within a job’s capacity. To receive the best settlement for your harassment case, hire a skilled and experienced New York City supervisor harassment lawyer.

Your Dedicated New York City Supervisor Harassment Attorneys

Joseph & Norinsberg, LLC has the experience and skill you need to receive a satisfactory settlement in and out of the courtroom. A New York City sexual harassment attorney at the firm has in-depth understanding of state and federal manager-employee harassment laws will help the judge see your situation from your side and award you the compensation for damages you deserve. Call us today at 212-587-8423 for a free initial consultation and more information.

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