Yes. If you were sexually abused in the workplace, Illinois law allows you to file a civil lawsuit against your employer in addition to the person who committed the abuse. Employers have a legal duty to maintain a safe work environment. If they fail to prevent sexual abuse through something like negligent hiring, they can be held financially responsible for the harm you suffered. An experienced Chicago sexual abuse attorney can evaluate the facts of your situation and help you understand which legal options are available to you.
Learn more about how these cases work, including the kinds of compensation you may be entitled to.
When Can an Employer Be Held Responsible for Workplace Sexual Abuse?
An employer will not automatically face liability just because the abuse or injury happened on the job. However, several legal theories allow survivors to hold employers accountable when their failures contributed to the situation.
You may have grounds to sue your employer if any of the following apply:
- The employer failed to conduct adequate background checks before hiring the person who committed the abuse.
- Management ignored warning signs or prior complaints about the abuser’s behavior.
- The company lacked policies designed to prevent sexual misconduct in the workplace.
- Leadership failed to take corrective action after learning that abuse had occurred.
Recovering damages from the individual abuser alone is often difficult. Employers typically have far greater financial resources, which makes pursuing a claim against the company a critical step toward obtaining fair compensation.
How Has Illinois Strengthened Protections for Survivors?
Illinois has taken significant steps to expand employer accountability in recent years. Section 11 of the Illinois Gender Violence Act, for instance, created a clear framework for holding employers directly liable when gender-related violence occurs in the workplace.
Under this provision, an employer can face liability for failing to properly train or supervise the employee who engaged in the violence. The law also applies when an employer was informed of misconduct but did not take remedial measures in response. This legislation has made it considerably easier for survivors to pursue civil claims against companies that tolerated or enabled abusive behavior.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available in These Cases?
A successful lawsuit against your employer may result in compensation for both the financial and personal toll the abuse has taken on your life.
Economic damages can cover lost wages if you had to leave your job or missed time from work. You may also be able to recover the cost of counseling or other treatment. Non-economic damages account for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the lasting psychological impact of the abuse. In certain cases, punitive damages may be available if the employer’s conduct was particularly egregious.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Sexual Abuse Attorney
You deserve justice from every party that allowed the abuse to happen. Meyers & Flowers has recovered more than $6 billion for clients and brings over 100 years of combined experience to every case. Call us today at (630) 576-9696 for a free consultation to learn how we can help you move forward.