Sexual Harassment, Hostile Work Environment and Gender Discrimination

Fort Lauderdale Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination Attorneys

While there are sexual predators in the workplace, most sexual harassment is simple discrimination. It is a way to put women down and make the workplace so unpleasant that women don't want to come back. It has very little to do with sex and very much to do with power. Once somebody refers to a part of the female anatomy, a woman professional can feel marginalized, and the entire conversation switches from her brain to her body.

At The Amlong Firm in Fort Lauderdale, we understand sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Karen Coolman Amlong went into feminist politics, the Florida Legislature, and law school after her boss at a department store chain told her she could not get a better paying job because the competing male candidate "has a family" and "needs" the promotion. Bill Amlong has successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court that employers should be liable for the sexually harassing behavior of supervisory employees unless they have in place an effective mechanism to combat sexual harassment.

Our lawyers are aggressive advocates who are here to help people in sexual harassment, hostile work environment, unequal pay, and gender discrimination cases. Above all, we are trial lawyers. Our opponents know we are willing to go to try cases, and we obtain settlements that are generally better than those obtained by lawyers with a reputation for being reluctant to go to court.

Sexual harassment is employment discrimination in the form of unwelcome behavior. Sexual harassment may occur in numerous ways: a supervisor who demands a date in exchange for favorable treatment; an employee who engages in unwanted verbal or sexual behavior toward a coworker; or a group of employees whose sexual jokes are so pervasive that they create a hostile and offensive work environment, interfering with the work performance of one of more coworkers.

Sexual harassment can also have nothing to do with "sex" - for example, when male supervisors or fellow employees degrade or patronize female employees. Repeatedly calling someone a "bitch," for example, does not necessarily constitute gender discrimination, but it may be evidence of attitudes that give rise to gender discrimination.

Gender discrimination is about the "glass ceiling," stereotypes, and expectations of what women can and should be doing versus what men can and should be doing. Men are assumed to be competent. Women have to prove their competence over and over again. Women's mistakes are remembered long after men's are forgotten. Research shows that women are expected to conform to stereotyped roles: e.g., a "mother," (a nurturer) or "Ms. Efficiency" (who organizes everything for everybody) or a "mascot" (who waits on the sidelines and cheers the guys on). Women who conform to stereotypes often are rewarded. Those who don't often are punished. When a male manager stands up for himself, he's being "aggressive." When a female manager does the same thing, she's being a "bitch."

Gender discrimination also is about that office bully who rears up on his toes and, with a red face, screams at his female vice- president but does not have what it takes to scream at his male vice-president. Gender discrimination is about an employer who is hostile and intimidating to you because of your gender, even if the content of what he says is not sexual.

What's happening here is gender discrimination, and it's illegal in the workplace.

We have represented executive and professional women who were punished because they are forceful and effective and who didn't live up (or down) to the stereotypes. We have litigated cases for women in law enforcement and emergency medical services, women who have worked construction and driven sixteen-wheeler trucks cross-country. While most of our gender discrimination cases involve women, the same laws and principles protect men from gender-based discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment.

For a consultation with a sexual harassment or gender discrimination lawyer at The Amlong Firm, call 954.462.1983 or fill out our simple contact form. From our office in Fort Lauderdale, we serve clients throughout South Florida.

Learn more

FCHR Technical Assistance Questionnaire

Ten things to Do If You're Being Sexually Harassed

Sexual Harassment Information Center

Workplace Fairness®

How to File a Charge of Discrimination