Can you be fired by your company after you report sexual harassment from a client or a customer? And the answer is yes, you can be fired after reporting sexual harassment of a client or a customer because you can be fired for any reason at any time or no reason at all, but you cannot be fired because you reported the sexual harassment of a client or customer. You see the distinction? If you’re fired, unless you have a personal services or union contract that protects you, you’re an at-will employee and you can be terminated. But if you’re terminated for complaining that you were sexually harassed by a client or a customer, or even an outside vendor, just the same as if you reported the sexual harassment of a coworker or a manager, and that’s the reason you’re fired, it happens on the tail of that reporting, and, you know, that’s the reason that’s illegal.
So that’s why it’s so important to document your complaint of sexual harassment. Even if it’s a client or a customer or some outside person who was sexually harassing you while you’re at work, that is illegal and the reporting of it to your company is required. And that is a protected civil, right. So make sure that if you’re experiencing unwelcome sexual attention or sexual harassment from a client or a customer in your workplace, that you report such harassment in a provable way, typically that means in writing to your company. So if you are terminated because you complained about that sexual harassment, you will then have the legal leverage to hold your company accountable for that wrongful retaliatory discharge. This is Jack Tuckner with the New York based employment law firm of Tuckner, Sipser, Weinstock & Sipser. If you have any questions about your own case of sexual harassment at the hands of a client or customer or vendor, please feel free to reach out to us in total confidence for a free case evaluation. And we’ll see how we may be able to assist and empower you against this illegal workplace retaliation. Thank you.