I Was Sexually Harassed in Los Angeles During an Office Holiday Party. What Should I do? Can Sexual Harassment Laws Protect You from Sexual Harassment Outside of the Office?
You went to the office holiday party to relax and have a good time with your coworkers. It was a work-related event. Therefore, you were still on your best behavior. You knew not to drink too much or say anything out of line. Your behavior was completely appropriate for an office holiday party, even though it was at a private restaurant in Los Angeles. Your coworker, however, did not remember the event was a company-sponsored event. He got drunk and began acting completely unprofessional. At one point, he came over to you with mistletoe and tried to kiss you. You stepped away and asked him to leave you alone. In his drunken state, he ignored your request, followed you, and grabbed you to plant a kiss right on your lips. His blatant disregard for your personal space is an example of sexual harassment. His actions are not excused because he was drunk. They are not excused because you were out at a private LA restaurant. His actions are grounds for a sexual harassment complaint in your Los Angeles workplace. What can you do as the victim of sexual harassment at your Los Angeles office holiday party?