If you are an unpaid intern and face sexual harassment on the job, you may have rights under the law (though the rights protecting an intern may be more limited than those protecting an employee). Moore & Associates is a Houston, Texas sexual harassment law firm that may be able to help you seek justice if you suffered from sexual harassment on the job as an intern. Interns, unlike employees, don’t always enjoy the same benefits as full-time or hired workers. For example, interns may not enjoy federal anti-harassment protections, but you may be protected under Title IX protections if you are receiving university credit for the internship.
Why are interns particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment? For one, interns are unpaid. Secondly, interns are often reliant on the recommendations they receive from superiors; in fact, with most internships, the whole point is the connections an intern can gain from the experience. When interns are sexually harassed, they are often put in the uncomfortable position of speaking up and potentially losing important recommendations and connections, or suffering in silence. The important thing to remember is that no one should ever have to suffer sexual harassment on the job. Moore & Associates is a sexual harassment law firm that may be able to help you if you have suffered sexual harassment at work.
Interns are particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment. Why? Interns are at the bottom of the workplace chain of command. They basically answer to everyone. They are also young and inexperienced in workplace dynamics. They may be more vulnerable to manipulation. The currency with internships is connections and recommendations, both of which can be denied to an intern if she speaks up against a male harasser. Furthermore, young interns could be so disturbed by sexual harassment that they change career prospects believing that their encounter with one workplace environment or one employer or employee characterizes the field. Interns may be asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, as many interns at the U.S. Capitol do. All of these vulnerabilities can cause major damage for a young woman (or young man) just starting a career.
If you experience sexual harassment at an internship, you may have several options. For one, you may be able to approach the company’s human resources department with your concerns. Human resources may be able to take actions to protect you. Most interns work for college credit. The actual benefit that the student is receiving is in the form of a college credit. This means that your college or university may also have a role to play in protecting your interests if you suffer from sexual harassment at an internship for which you are getting college credit. You can also approach your college or university officials if a situation at an internship has turned concerning. Moore & Associates is a sexual harassment law firm in Houston, Texas that may be able to help you seek damages if you have experienced sexual harassment in an internship and neither human resources nor your university could help you.
Steps to Take If You’ve Been Harassed in an Internship in Houston, Texas
If you’ve been sexually harassed at your internship, the steps you can take to protect your rights are similar to the ones you’d take if you were an employee. Documenting the harassment, keeping records of harassment, and informing human resources or your university about the harassment are some early steps you can take if you experience sexual harassment on the job. If there were others in the workplace or other witnesses to the harassment, get the names and contact information of these individuals so that you can add this information to your report. If your internship’s human resources department doesn’t help you or if your school doesn’t intervene, you may have the ability to pursue a sexual harassment lawsuit. Have questions about your rights and options? Reach out to Moore & Associates, a sexual harassment law firm in Houston, Texas today.
Speak to a Sexual Harassment Lawyer
A sexual harassment law firm in Houston, Texas may be able to assist you with your case. Moore & Associates are sexual harassment lawyers who can review your situation, help you understand your rights, and who may be able to help you seek damages if sexual harassment in your internship interfered with your educational progress or if you believe it interfered with your career. Some industries are very small and there are very few opportunities. Sexual harassment from even just one person could potentially impact the entire trajectory of a person’s career. The sexual harassment law firm of Moore & Associates in Houston, Texas may be able to help you. Contact us today or connect with USAttorneys.com to get matched with one of our lawyers today.
