Workplace Harassment Lawyer in Bakersfield
If you’re facing harassment at work—whether sexual, racial, or based on any protected characteristic—our Bakersfield attorneys stand with you. We investigate, hold employers accountable, and fight to protect your rights, career, and well-being while pursuing the justice and compensation you deserve.
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Your Voice Against Workplace Harassment in Bakersfield
No one should dread going to work. Your job should be a place of opportunity and growth, not fear and anxiety. Yet, for too many hardworking people in Bakersfield, that fear is a daily reality. Whether you work in our region’s thriving agriculture and oil industries, or in the essential healthcare and retail sectors, you have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. When that right is violated, it can feel like your world is falling apart. You may feel isolated, powerless, and unsure of where to turn.
At Marquee Advocacy Group, we understand. We’re not just lawyers; we’re your neighbors. We know that workplace harassment isn’t just a legal problem—it’s a personal crisis that affects your health, your family, and your financial stability. In simple terms, workplace harassment is any unwelcome conduct based on a protected characteristic (like your gender, race, or religion) that becomes so severe or pervasive that it creates a hostile or abusive work environment. It can be a manager’s inappropriate comments, a coworker's unwanted advances, or a pattern of bullying that makes it impossible for you to do your job.
If you are facing this struggle, you are not alone. As your dedicated workplace harassment lawyer in Bakersfield, our mission is to restore your power. We fight for employees who have been wronged, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are protected. You don't have to endure harassment as "part of the job." With an experienced employment harassment attorney from Marquee Advocacy Group by your side, you can fight back.
YOU DON’T PAY UNLESS WE WIN
What is Workplace Harassment? A Clear Explanation
Workplace harassment is behavior that is unwelcome, discriminatory in nature, and severe or pervasive enough to create a toxic work environment. It’s not just about a single off-color joke or an annoying coworker. It's a pattern of conduct that makes you feel threatened, intimidated, or humiliated at work.
Many people confuse harassment with general workplace conflict or discrimination, but there's a key difference.
- Discrimination is often an adverse action, like being fired, demoted, or denied a promotion because of your race, gender, age, or another protected status.
- Harassment, on the other hand, is the ongoing conduct that creates a hostile atmosphere. It’s the daily torment that makes the job unbearable.
Think of it this way: not being hired for a farm supervisor role because you are a woman is discrimination. Being subjected to constant, demeaning comments about your gender by your supervisor and colleagues is harassment.
Here are a few scenarios that Bakersfield employees might relate to:
- An oilfield worker is constantly taunted with derogatory names and offensive jokes about his national origin. His requests for it to stop are ignored.
- A nurse at a local hospital receives persistent and unwanted invitations for dates from her manager, who hints that her career advancement depends on her "friendliness."
- A retail employee with a disability is mimicked and ridiculed by coworkers, and management does nothing to intervene.
These situations are more than just unpleasant; they are illegal. If any of this sounds familiar, it's time to speak with an employment harassment lawyer who can help you understand your options.
About Marquee Advocacy Group
At Marquee Advocacy Group, we believe employees are the backbone of Bakersfield’s economy. From farmworkers and oilfield crews to nurses, teachers, and office professionals, Kern County thrives because of its workforce. Yet too often, these workers are underpaid, overworked, or mistreated.
Our firm was built to level the playing field. As a premier Bakersfield labor law firm, we focus exclusively on employee representation—not employers. We’ve built a reputation for fighting aggressively in cases such as:
Get Your Free ConsultationWrongful Termination
Being fired for reasons that violate the law—such as discrimination, retaliation, or refusing to participate in illegal activities. We help employees who were let go unfairly get compensation, lost wages, and justice.
Workplace Discrimination
Employees cannot be treated differently because of their age, gender, race, disability, religion, national origin, pregnancy, or other protected characteristics. Discrimination can include unfair treatment, denied promotions, reduced hours, or being replaced due to bias.
Workplace Harassment & Hostile Work Environments
Harassment can be verbal, physical, or sexual. It includes offensive jokes, unwanted touching, intimidation, or any behavior that creates a toxic or unsafe environment. We help victims hold employers accountable for failing to stop harassment.
Workplace Retaliation
It is illegal for employers to punish employees for reporting wrongdoing, filing complaints, requesting accommodations, or standing up for their legal rights. Retaliation can include termination, demotion, cut hours, threats, or negative performance reviews.
Unpaid Wages and Overtime
Many workers don’t receive the pay they are legally owed. This includes unpaid overtime, minimum wage violations, missed meal/rest breaks, withheld commissions, or off-the-clock work. We fight to recover every dollar employees deserve.
Employee Misclassification
Some employers wrongly label workers as “independent contractors” or “salaried exempt employees” to avoid paying overtime, benefits, or providing legal protections. We help employees challenge misclassification and recover unpaid wages and benefits.
Leave of Absence Violations
Workers are legally entitled to certain leaves—such as family leave, medical leave, pregnancy leave, and disability leave. Employers cannot deny these leaves, cut hours, demote employees, or fire them for taking time off legally.
Breach of Employment Contracts
If an employer breaks a written, verbal, or implied agreement—whether related to pay, job duties, termination terms, or benefits—the employee may have a legal claim. We help enforce contractual rights and seek compensation.
Whistleblower Protection
Employees who report unsafe working conditions, fraud, wage theft, or illegal activity are protected by law. Employers cannot fire or punish whistleblowers. We help ensure their rights are protected and pursue damages when retaliation occurs.
Why Employees Across Bakersfield Trust Us?
The truth is, many workers hesitate to contact an attorney because they fear retaliation, costs, or the complexity of the legal system. But at Marquee Advocacy Group, we make the process simple, accessible, and risk-free.
No Win, No Money Promise
You pay nothing unless we win your case. Our contingency model ensures every worker—no matter their financial situation—gets fair access to justice.
Local Experience
Our team understands Bakersfield’s industries firsthand, from agriculture and oil to healthcare and education. We know the challenges local workers face every day.
Focused on Employment Law
We don’t handle every type of case—only workplace law. This exclusive focus allows us to deliver stronger strategies and better results for employees.
When you need an employment lawyer in Bakersfield, you deserve someone who understands not only the law but also the industries and pressures unique to Kern County.
Common Types of Workplace Harassment We Handle
Harassment can take many forms, but it generally falls into a few key categories. At Marquee Advocacy Group, we have experience fighting all types of illegal workplace conduct.
Sexual Harassment
This is perhaps the most well-known form of harassment. It includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This can range from offensive jokes and comments to inappropriate touching or assault. It creates a work environment that feels unsafe and degrading.
Quid Pro Quo Harassment
This is a Latin phrase meaning "this for that." In the workplace, it occurs when a person in a position of authority demands sexual favors in exchange for a job benefit (like a promotion or a raise) or to avoid a negative consequence (like being fired or demoted). Even a single instance of quid pro quo can be illegal.
Hostile Work Environment
A hostile work environment exists when unwelcome behavior becomes so severe or pervasive that it creates an abusive or offensive workplace. It can be based on any protected trait—such as race, religion, age, disability, or gender identity—with examples ranging from repeated racial slurs to derogatory comments about an employee’s age.
Retaliation
Retaliation is a form of punishment. It occurs when an employer takes adverse action against an employee for engaging in a legally protected activity, such as reporting harassment, participating in an investigation, or filing a complaint. If you spoke out against illegal behavior and were suddenly demoted, had your hours cut, or were fired, you may be a victim of retaliation.
Why You Need a Workplace Harassment Lawyer
Many employees believe their first and only stop should be the Human Resources (HR) department. While reporting to HR is often a critical first step, it’s important to understand HR's primary role: to protect the company. HR specialists are employed by the company, and their goal is to manage employees and ensure legal compliance from the company's perspective.
Unfortunately, this can lead to several problems for a victim of harassment:
Your Complaint is Minimized
HR may downplay the severity of the harassment to avoid a larger issue.
A Biased Investigation
The investigation may be conducted in a way that favors the company and the accused, not the victim.
Inadequate Solutions
The "solution" might be to move your desk or schedule, punishing you instead of the harasser.
Fear of Retaliation
Even with policies in place, reporting to HR can sometimes lead to subtle or overt retaliation, making the situation worse.
Hiring a workplace harassment attorney changes the dynamic completely
Here’s how:
Your Advocate, Your Voice
A lawyer works for you, not the company. Their sole focus is protecting your rights and achieving the best possible outcome for you.
Strengthening Your Claim
An attorney helps you gather and preserve crucial evidence, document incidents correctly, and build a strong case from the very beginning. They know what it takes to prove harassment under California law.
Leveling the Playing Field
Companies have teams of lawyers. Having your own legal expert ensures you are on equal footing. It signals to your employer that you are serious and will not be intimidated.
Emotional and Financial Relief
Knowing a professional is handling the legal complexities allows you to focus on your well-being. A lawyer fights for the compensation you deserve for lost wages, emotional distress, and other damages, providing a path toward financial recovery.
The Real Impact of Workplace Harassment: Stats and Stories
Workplace harassment isn't just an inconvenience; it's a crisis with devastating effects on employees' health and financial security. The numbers paint a stark picture, but the reality is that harassment is chronically underreported due to fear of retaliation.
Here are some key statistics:
- In California, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), now the Civil Rights Department (CRD), investigates thousands of harassment and discrimination complaints annually. In one local case, the DFEH settled a claim against a Kern County job training program for $95,000 after a supervisor sexually assaulted a client.
- Nationally, studies show that a vast majority of employees who experience harassment never file a formal complaint. One study indicated that 81% of women and 43% of men have faced some form of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime, highlighting how widespread the problem is.
- Bakersfield has a labor force of over 176,000 workers. Even a small percentage of these individuals experiencing harassment represents a significant local crisis, impacting families and our community's economic health.
Harassment is a significant contributor to occupational health problems, leading to severe stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological and physical ailments. When you're forced to choose between your paycheck and your well-being, the financial toll can be just as damaging. Many victims lose income due to missed work, are forced to quit, or are wrongfully terminated. This is why having a lawyer for assault at work or other forms of harassment is not a luxury—it's a necessity for justice.
The Marquee Method: No Win, No Money
Our unique approach ensures clients never face financial risk for engaging an attorney:
Confidential Consultation
Speak with an employment harassment attorney about your situation.
Case Evaluation
We identify unlawful firing and discrimination claims.
Evidence Building
Collecting documents, records, and witness statements.
Agency Complaints
Filing with EEOC or CRD if required.
Settlement Negotiations
Seeking fair compensation without court intervention.
Trial Preparation
If employers refuse fairness, we litigate aggressively.
You Pay Nothing Unless We Win
Our promise to every worker.
YOU DON’T PAY UNLESS WE WIN
Recent Victories
From executives to construction workers, we fight for people who have been wronged. Below is a selection of our recent results.
Disability Discrimination
Wage & Hour Class Action
Retaliation - Leave
Gender Discrimination
Association - With Disabled Family Member
Racial Discrimination
Wage & Hour Class Action
Sexual Harassment
* Past results don't guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.
Real Stories. Real Results.
Over $100 Million recovered for our clients. Here is what they have to say about working with us.
D. Valenzuela
Employment Law Client
Phil Leggett
Employment Law Client
Shane Steiner
Employment Law Client
Jeff Phillips
Employment Law Client
YOU DON'T PAY UNLESS WE WIN
Related Services in Bakersfield
Wrongful Termination Lawyer in Bakersfield
Workplace Harassment Lawyer in Bakersfield
Workplace Retaliation Lawyer in Bakersfield
Unpaid Wages Lawyer in Bakersfield
Employee Misclassification Lawyer in Bakersfield
Leave of Absence Attorney in Bakersfield
Breach of Employment Contract Lawyer in Bakersfield
Whistleblower Protection Lawyer in Bakersfield
What We Can Recover for You: Seeking Full and Fair Compensation
A successful workplace harassment claim can provide compensation for the various ways the illegal conduct has damaged your life. Our lawyers for workplace harassment fight to recover every dollar you are owed. This can include:
Most employment cases are resolved through a settlement, which is a negotiated agreement between you and your employer. This is often faster and less stressful than going to trial. However, if a fair settlement isn't on the table, we are always prepared for litigation.
- Lost Wages: We pursue compensation for any past or future income you lost as a result of the harassment. This includes back pay if you were fired and front pay if your ability to earn a living has been impacted.
- Emotional Distress: The psychological toll of harassment is very real. California law allows victims to recover damages for the mental anguish, anxiety, depression, and humiliation they have suffered.
- Punitive Damages: In cases where an employer's conduct was particularly malicious or reckless, courts may award punitive damages. These are designed to punish the employer and deter similar behavior in the future.
While every case is unique, we have a strong track record of securing significant wins for our clients. We have helped employees recover compensation after being forced out of their jobs, secured settlements for victims of severe sexual harassment, and held powerful companies accountable for their toxic work cultures.
YOU DON’T PAY UNLESS WE WIN
Frequently Asked Questions
This is an unfortunately common scenario. If HR fails to take your complaint seriously, conducts a sham investigation, or retaliates against you, their inaction can actually strengthen your legal case. It shows that the company failed to take reasonable steps to prevent and correct harassment. Once you report it, the company is legally on notice. If they do nothing, their liability increases.