If you face workplace harassment of any kind, you should speak with your manager or a representative from the company’s human resources department.
f workplace harassment is of a sexual nature, you should act with a sense of urgency. Failure to act promptly might indicate to your harasser that you do not care about the harassment.
Filing a workplace sexual harassment claim in Georgia is a bit different process than in many other states. You have to file your claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
What Georgia Laws Protect Against Sexual Harassment?
Georgia is one of the few states that have not enacted a law that specifically addresses sexual harassment in the workplace. However, the Georgia Fair Employment Act prohibits discrimination based on several criteria, such as age, race, disability, and religion.
Georgia also prohibits discrimination based on sex, which covers gender discrimination in the workplace. One type of gender discrimination is called sexual harassment because the act singles out an employee for harassing and abusive behavior.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also addresses gender discrimination, which can include one or more acts of Georgia workplace Sexual Harassment
What is Considered Sexual Harassment?
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 defines sexual harassment as a type of workplace discrimination. EEOC standards define sexual harassment as uninvited sexual requests for sexual favors, and physical conduct that is considered highly inappropriate.
Sexual harassment represents a powerful way to impact an employee’s workplace negatively in the following ways:
- Submission or rejection of sexual advances is a condition for making employment decisions
- Sexual conduct of a sexual nature adversely interferes with an employee’s performance
- Sexual conduct produces a hostile, offensive, and/or intimidating work environment
The key word here is “unwelcome.” Any employee that wants a fellow worker to stop acts of sexual harassment considers the acts to be unwelcome. Sexual harassment applies to both genders in the roles of victim and harasser.
What Types of Employers are Covered by Workplace Sexual Harassment Laws in Georgia?
Georgia discrimination statutes, which include acts of sexual harassment, cover private-sector employers that have at least 15 employees.
At the federal level, the EEOC also enforces sexual harassment laws for private-sector employers that employ a minimum of 15 workers. State and federal statutes do not cover independent contractors.
Where Do You File a Sexual Harassment Claim in Georgia?
Since Georgia has not dedicated a state agency to file sexual harassment claims, you should contact the Georgia Department of Labor to file a discrimination claim that describes your experience of being sexually harassed at work in Georgia.
You can reach the Georgia Department of Labor by accessing the online Contact Us page.
You have two options for contacting a Georgia EEOC office. The office that you contact should be the nearest office to where you work. For example, if you live in western Georgia, you should contact the Atlanta District Office.
Here is the contact information for both Georgia EEOC offices.:
Atlanta District Office
- Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
- 100 Alabama Street, SW, Suite 4R30
- Atlanta, GA 30303
- Office Hours: M-F 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
- Phone: (800) 669-4000
Savannah Local Office
- 7391 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Suite 200
- Savannah, GA 31406-2579
- Office Hours: M-F 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
- Phone: (800) 669-4000
The best option for contacting the EEOC office in Atlanta or Savannah during COVID-19 is by accessing the federal agency’s online portal. Submitting the online form gets you a scheduled interview with a representative from the EEOC.
How Long Do I Have to File a Sexual Harassment Claim in Georgia?
Workers have 300 days from the date of the last incident to file Georgia workplace sexual harassment claims with the EEOC or the Georgia Department of Labor.
The best advice is to file a claim as soon as possible after the last act of sexual harassment in the workplace. Moreover, make sure you can provide proof that lists the last day you experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.
Get Help Filing a Sexual Harassment Claim in Georgia
With the help of an employment attorney, you should be able to stay on top of your sexual harassment claim. Your lawyer can monitor the progress of the claim, as well as decide whether you have a strong enough case to file a civil lawsuit against your employer.
Some acts of sexual harassment also border on criminal behavior, which means your lawyer might suggest that you file criminal charges as well.Schedule a free case evaluation with an employment attorney to learn how you can submit the most convincing claim.
