San Francisco sexual harassment
San Francisco Sexual Harassment Lawyer
Nothing is reported, filed or sent to your employer unless you decide it should be. The first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
This page covers workplace sexual harassment for San Francisco employees. For the statewide rules see California harassment, and for other San Francisco claims see the San Francisco hub.
What the Law Actually Requires
Two forms. Quid pro quo, where a job benefit is conditioned on submitting to conduct of a sexual nature. And hostile work environment, where conduct is severe or pervasive enough to change the conditions of your work.
California set that second standard deliberately low relative to where federal courts had taken it, and stated that harassment cases are rarely appropriate for resolution before a jury sees them.
The Arbitration Clause in Your Onboarding Packet
Many San Francisco employers, particularly in tech, put an arbitration agreement in the new-hire paperwork. Federal legislation now gives employees a choice about arbitration for sexual harassment and sexual assault claims, which means a clause signed years ago may not control where this case is heard.
That is worth checking early, because it changes the strategy rather than just the venue.
What Helps, and What Is Not Required
Dates and contemporaneous notes. Messages saved off the work device. Anyone who saw or heard. A record of what you reported and when.
What is not required: reporting immediately, confronting the person, or being certain it was serious enough. None of those are preconditions.
Where a San Francisco Claim Goes
A FEHA complaint goes to the California Civil Rights Department, whose nearest office is Oakland at 555 12th Street, Suite 2050, with online filing the practical route. A lawsuit is filed at San Francisco Superior Court, Civic Center Courthouse at 400 McAllister Street, with federal claims going to the Northern District of California at 450 Golden Gate Avenue.
Find Out Where You Stand
Three questions and a phone number. An attorney reads every one, and you hear back within one business day.
San Francisco Sexual Harassment FAQ
I signed an arbitration agreement when I joined.
For sexual harassment claims you may have a choice about that now, regardless of what you signed. It is one of the first things worth checking.
Does My Employer Find Out I Contacted a Lawyer?
No. Nothing moves without your instruction.
It was one incident.
That can be enough. California rejected the idea that a single serious incident is automatically insufficient.
I already reported it to HR and nothing happened.
That record helps rather than hurts, and a failure to act is itself part of the picture.
Employment Law Resources
- Government Code 12923, harassment standards and summary judgment: leginfo
- California Civil Rights Department, filing a complaint: calcivilrights.ca.gov
- SB 331, Silenced No More Act: leginfo
- San Francisco Superior Court, civil filing: sfsuperiorcourt.org
Tell Us What Happened
One business day for a response. You pay nothing unless we win.