Sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims are governed by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act at the federal level, and by Louisiana's Employment Discrimination Law at the state level. The two laws don't cover identical ground — Louisiana's statute applies to employers with 20 or more employees, while Title VII applies at 15 or more — so which law fits your situation depends on your employer's size.

At Business Law Group, our employment lawyers in New Orleans help employees understand whether what they experienced meets the legal bar for a claim, and what filing one actually involves. Contact us at (504) 446-6506 to schedule a consultation.

What Counts as Unlawful Harassment

• Conduct that is severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile work environment — not an isolated, one-off comment
• Quid pro quo harassment — a supervisor conditioning a job benefit on submission to unwelcome conduct
• Retaliation against you for reporting harassment internally or filing a charge

Your Rights

What This Looks Like

If You've Experienced Workplace Harassment

1. Document everything — dates, what was said or done, who was present, and how you reported it internally.
2. Report it internally if you haven't already, to a manager, supervisor, or HR — this step often matters for how a claim is evaluated later.
3. Know your deadline — an EEOC charge generally has to be filed within 180 days of the last incident (up to 300 in some cases), and this clock doesn't wait.
4. Talk to an employment attorney before the deadline passes, even if you're not sure yet whether you want to pursue anything formally.

Ready to talk to someone? Complete our employee intake form and we'll follow up.

Employee FAQ — Workplace Harassment

Does one inappropriate comment count as harassment?

Generally, no — the legal standard requires conduct that's severe or pervasive, meaning either a single very serious incident or a pattern over time. A single tasteless comment, on its own, rarely meets that bar, but a pattern often does.

Does it matter how big my employer is?

Yes. Louisiana's state discrimination law applies to employers with 20 or more employees; federal Title VII applies at 15 or more. If your employer falls below both thresholds, this specific legal path may not be available, though other options could still apply depending on the facts.

How long do I have to file a charge?

Generally 180 days from the most recent incident, extended to 300 days in jurisdictions with a state deferral agency, which includes Louisiana. This deadline is strict, so don't wait to find out where you stand.

Do I have to file with the EEOC before I can sue?

Yes — a Title VII claim generally requires filing an EEOC charge and receiving a right-to-sue letter before a lawsuit can be filed in federal court. This is a required step, not an optional one.

I was fired after reporting harassment — is that separate from the harassment itself?

It can be its own claim. Retaliation for a good-faith harassment complaint is illegal even if the underlying harassment claim is harder to prove, and the two are often evaluated together.