Workplace harassment includes many types of unwanted and bothersome conduct. This may include very serious actions such as sexual harassment, assault, bullying, and discrimination. If you face harassment at your work, you could be entitled to significant financial compensation and other remedies. Our attorneys help you protect your rights and fight back against harassment.
The employment lawyers at Abney Law help you understand what qualifies as harassment in Kentucky. We can help you file a claim or lawsuit that stops the harassment and potentially wins you compensation for what you have been through.
Defining Harassment
Understanding what qualifies as harassment can seem difficult at first because the term is incredibly broad. Under Kentucky and federal workplace protection laws, harassment includes any unwelcome physical or verbal conduct against you based on a protected class. Actions by supervisors or fellow employees may lead to tangible employment actions that negatively affect you.
Other types of harassment create a hostile work environment. These include unbearable work conditions and discrimination that cause you to suffer while at work. Not every bothersome or uncomfortable situation constitutes a hostile work environment. However, many people that are wondering if their situation fits find that it does after speaking with a qualified employment attorney in Kentucky.
Types of Harassment in Kentucky
There are many types of harassment that might happen in Kentucky. Understanding what you face can help you fight back against it and protect your rights.
Types of harassment in Kentucky include, but are not limited to:
- Sexual Harassment: Sexual acts, conduct, innuendos, threats, or overtures
- Physical Assault: Acts of physical violence or attempted physical harm against an employee
- Personal Harassment: Harassment aimed at a specific individual
- Hostile Work Environment: Purposeful creation of work environment designed to harass or discriminate against a person
- Retaliation: Acts by an employer or supervisor to retaliate against an employee for taking a protected actions, such as against whistleblowers
- Stalking: Following an individual or repeated acts of unwanted communication, often includes threats of physical harm
- Cyberbullying: Harassing a person online in a way that causes significant mental distress
- Gender or Gender Identity Discrimination: Acts of discrimination against you because of your gender or how you identify
- Racial and Ethnic Background Discrimination: Acts of discrimination against you because of your ethnic background, race, or country of origin
Remedies for Kentucky Workplace Harassment Claims
There are multiple ways to seek remedies for harassment in Kentucky. The first is to file with a federal or state employment discrimination agency. This can help put a stop to the harassment as well as win compensation such as:
- Compensatory damages for your out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and more
- Punitive damages to punish the offender and employer for permitting harassment
There are specific monetary limits under this method, often based on the size of your employer and other factors.
You may also file a separate legal claim to win compensation. These amounts are not capped in the same manner as agency claims. You may win pain and suffering, lost wages, punitive damages and many more from a workplace harassment lawsuit.
Get Help With Your Kentucky Workplace Harassment Claim
You do not deserve to face employment harassment. There are federal and state laws that protect you against this type of conduct. While your employer should take steps to prevent or remedy these issues, they often fail to protect their workers the way they should. We are here to step in and protect your legal rights.
Let the experienced employment law attorneys at Abney Law help you fight back against workplace harassment. Contact us today for a consultation of your case.