In Texas, if you’re harassed at work, there are protective laws that you can fall back on to help you get out of a bad situation. If it’s a volatile workplace, there may be steps you can take to fight the harassment, to make your job more pleasant and to go to work without the concern of such a problem.
The problem in this case happened when a woman allegedly was fired for reporting sexual harassment at her job, forcing her to take legal action against the employer. The woman is claiming that she was fired for reporting the harassment to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If this is the case, the county may find itself in legal trouble and having to answer to her demands.
According to a June 9 report, the woman had worked for Galveston County on and off since 2001. In May 2011, she claims that a constable for the county began to sexually harass her at work. He allegedly made sexual comments to her and to other women in the workplace.
Like most people would, the woman claims she then reported the harassment through the proper channels at work. Those who were told about the sexual harassment allegedly failed to act. She claims a fraudulent outside investigation took place, and she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in August 2012.
Shortly after filing that complaint, just three days later, she was terminated from her position, and no reason for the firing has been reported in the news. She’s now asking the county to pay her damages, benefits and lost wages, and she’s also requesting reinstatement.
Source: Southeast Texas Record, “Galveston County sued after firing employee who reported sexual harassment” Annie Cosby, Jun. 09, 2014