One of the reasons that sexual harassers thrive in the workplace is that there’s never been any particular effort to track them. Indeed, since many employers are reluctant to admit that sexual harassment occurred behind their doors, many harassers can quietly move on to other positions in other companies — where new potential victims await.
California would like to change that — and it’s taking active steps to do so. A new centralized system, designed to track both sexual harassment claims and discrimination lawsuits among state employees, “went live” on Jan. 1, 2020.
The new tracking system was the direct result of an investigative report that showed just how easy it has been for serial sexual harassers employed by the state government to move from job to job — leaving strings of victims in their wakes.
Many of those with a track record of harassment were still able to keep their jobs — even though their actions cost Californians $25 million within just three years. By comparison, the new system costs a paltry $1.5 million, and it will make it harder for serial offenders to hide behind their employers. It will also make it harder for employers to deny.
Until the new system started, it was also easier for the state government to deny culpability for allowing someone with a history of sexual harassment into their midst. This database should make it easier to do background checks on prospective employees and learn if there’s been a history of problems.
If you’ve fallen victim to sexual harassment or abuse in the California workplace, it can affect every part of your life and cause you considerable distress. You have every right to seek compensation from those responsible. Find out more about your legal options today.