Should i file a lawsuit?

Question

At work in a major grocery store i feel like i'm in a vise.......
Co-worker simulate sex buy humping, cell phones with nasty pictures and one co-worked offered to show me his shave testicles. I was called an psychoic old woman (i'm 40 something) stupid, moron...... I reported this to HR and the one employee got supended.......I was told by HR that stick and stome will hurt, but i should not let words hurt me! Well they do Hurt!

Answer 1

What you are describing is termed the "hostile environment" type of sexual harassment (the other more serious type is "quid pro quo", which means "this for that").

Continued, pervasive behavior of the type you describe - lewd comments, dirty jokes, obscene photos, etc. is grounds for a suit. Your HR person should have known better than to give you that incredibly stupid advice. I've worked in HR for many years and I can tell you that if an employee came to me with the situation you describe people would have been suspended at minimum and probably terminated.

If HR won't help you, contact your local Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH.) You should have a poster at your workplace stating "Sexual Harassment Is Against The Law" and giving you the contact information. The DFEH will pursue a claim on your behalf. Of course, you can also file a civil suit against the company and/or the individuals involved.

Good luck to you, and keep fighting.