Many jobs require uniforms, and your employer may tell you what you must wear on the job. If wearing a uniform applies to everyone in the organization, it is legal.
As an example, a bar or a casino may require some employees to dress in a more revealing outfit than others. If it applies to the business, then your employer can specify that you must dress a certain way.
If the dress code does not apply to everyone else, and you are singled out to wear a more revealing outfit than your coworkers, then it may not be legal.
Singling out a worker could be sexual harassment depending on the situation, so you should speak with an employment law expert. If you feel like you are being harassed or discriminated against, you should act.
What Is Required Of An Employer
While an employer can have specific requirements for its employees, there are specific requirements for an employer as well.
An employer has a responsibility to its employees as well as its customers or clients. Your employer must ensure that you – as an employee – have a safe and comfortable work environment.
If you do not believe that you have a safe and comfortable environment for work, or if you think your employer has created a hostile work environment and is letting you be mistreated, then you will need to make sure you tell the proper administrator to address the issue.
What To Do Next
If you have been subject to sexual harassment in the workplace, you should report the incident to your supervisor and to the human resources department.
Keep proof of your complaint and maintain thorough documentation and supporting evidence. Be sure to maintain a file of any correspondence you receive from your employer, including any emails or memos regarding the status of your complaint and how it has been addressed.
If you do not believe your employer took your complaint seriously, or if you think that the matter has not been resolved as it should have been, you can advance your complaint to the EEOC or the Labor Board.
You will need to provide them with the documentation and evidence to support your claim. You will also need to show that you filed an internal complaint with your employer and that it was not resolved satisfactorily.
The EEOC or Labor Board will investigate, review the evidence, talk with your employer and then work to resolve the matter.
If they cannot get the matter resolved, they will suggest you take the next step which is to file a lawsuit against your employer for sexual harassment.
You will want an employment law attorney to help you with this process and ensure that you have the supporting evidence and documentation that your claim needs to prevail.
Gather The Evidence
You will need all the evidence that you can gather to support your claim.
This will include statements from any witnesses, any surveillance video or audio recordings that may have caught the incident on tape, and any physical or digital evidence, such as texts, emails, memos, notes, and any photos that you may have to support the claim. Also, the uniform in question and/or photos of you in this uniform in comparison to what other workers were wearing.
Your sexual harassment attorney will help you gather the supporting evidence that your claim needs to succeed. With the help of a lawyer, you are much more likely to have a successful claim and recover compensation for the damages that you suffered because of being sexually harassed in the workplace.
Have Your Case Evaluated By An Expert
If you have been the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, or if you were told to wear a different uniform than coworkers and you believe that was a form of sexual harassment, you should speak with an expert in employment law.
An employment law attorney who is familiar with sexual harassment matters could review the details of your case, gather supporting evidence, and ensure you are treated fairly throughout the claims process.
When you speak with an attorney, review the details of their payment plans. Some lawyers require a retainer to be paid in advance, but others will take a case on a contingency basis, which means that they will not be paid until you win your case.
You do have a limited time to pursue a claim, so complete the Free Case Evaluation Form to share the details of your case with a lawyer who handles such cases in your area.
