The government has introduced strict laws against sexual harassment in the workplace. Despite that, crime still exists in various parts of the USA. If you have been a victim of sexual harassment, you can file a claim with the help of a Paramus sexual harassment lawyer. An attorney can help you gather damages for the injustice you have suffered.
However, remember that the amount you receive in the form of damages may depend on several factors. Each sexual harassment claim is different, and the type of damages depends on the unique facts of your case. An attorney can help you investigate your situation and determine which damages apply.
Damages you can recover in a sexual harassment case
- Back pay.
If you were fired, denied a promotion, or demoted to a lower position in the company due to sexual harassment, you can recover the lost wages in the form of “back pay” damages. Back pay does include not only salary and wages but also the benefits, such as paid vacation, 401k benefits, bonuses, etc. In general, the law tries to put the victim in a position they would be in if the harassment did not happen in the first place.
- Medical expenses.
When sexual harassment becomes violent, it can result in bodily harm. Sometimes, harassment can also result in mental health issues and require the victim to attend therapy. You can recover the medical costs of physical as well as mental injuries from the defendant. Other costs you may recover include travels to the physician, medications, booking appointments, future treatment costs, etc. Your attorney in Paramus can hire a medical expert witness to calculate these damages.
- Emotional distress.
Sexual harassment can cause immense emotional distress to the victim. When a person experiences a traumatic incident, they are usually not able to recover from it for a long period of time. The types of conditions that emotional distress may lead to include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Strained relationships with loved ones
- Difficulty sleeping
- PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Front pay.
If you were fired or moved to a lower post as a result of the sexual harassment, your employer is required to re-hire you and give your old position back to you. However, in many cases, the position is no longer available (given to another employee), and the employer is not able to reinstate the victim’s position. In this case, they are required to pay the victim the money they will lose in the future due to the change in their job.
