Nashville Sexual Harassment Lawyers

Built for Trial. Centered on You.

Sexual harassment at work can make every shift, meeting, or email feel like something to endure rather than a job to do. For many people, leaving is not a realistic option, and even when it is, walking away does not undo the harm or the financial fallout. Standing up to harassment is not just about your job; it can also protect the next person who works there.

HMC Civil Rights represents employees in serious sexual harassment and workplace sexual violence cases across Tennessee. Our Nashville sexual harassment attorneys treat these as serious civil rights cases, not HR disputes. We investigate what happened, identify who is responsible, and prepare the matter for serious negotiation or trial.

If you are dealing with sexual harassment at work, you do not have to handle it alone. Call (615) 724‑1996, text or email us to have a member of our team review your situation.

What Sexual Harassment Looks Like

Sexual harassment is a form of job discrimination and can occur in any workplace, in any industry, and between people of any gender. It often falls into two overlapping categories:

• Requests for Sexual Favors a/k/a “Quid pro quo” harassment – When someone with power over your job (supervisor, manager, owner) ties employment decisions to sexual conduct: implied or explicit demands for dates, sexual favors, or other conduct as a condition of hiring, promotion, scheduling, or keeping your job.
• Hostile work environment – Severe or pervasive unwanted conduct of a sexual nature or based on sex or gender that makes it harder or humiliating to do your job. This can come from supervisors, coworkers, customers, or others in the workplace.

Examples of sexual harassment include:

• Unwanted sexual comments, propositions, or advances.
• Sexual jokes, emails, messages, or texts.
• Displaying demeaning or sexual images, videos, or materials.
• Transmitting unwanted photos of genitalia
• Unwanted touching, “accidental” brushes, or physical intimidation.
• Threats or retaliation when you say no or report what is happening.

Under Tennessee law, sexual harassment is broadly understood as any unequal treatment on the basis of gender/sex, that is unwelcome and serious enough to affect the conditions of employment. It does not have to be overtly sexual to be unlawful.

Sexual Harassment can damage your mental health, career, reputation, and financial stability. It can push your performance down, make you dread going to work, and in some cases lead to wrongful termination or being forced out. You deserve a workplace that is safe and respectful.

Our Approach to Sexual Harassment Cases

We treat sexual harassment cases as serious civil rights matters, not as something that should be “fixed quietly” at the lowest possible cost to the employer.

Our approach includes:

• Listening first. We start by understanding what has happened to you, how long it has been going on, and what you want to see change.
• Investigating and building the case. We look at documents, messages, policies, witness accounts, and patterns in the workplace to understand the full picture.
• Preparing for trial from the start. Even when a case resolves before trial, we build it as if a judge or jury will see it. That trial‑centered mindset strengthens your position at every stage.
• Centering your safety and goals. We talk candidly about options — internal complaints, agency filings, lawsuits, confidential resolution — and help you choose a path that matches your priorities, including safety, privacy, and long‑term career impact.

Filing a Sexual Harassment Claim

If you are experiencing sexual harassment, there are several possible steps, depending on your situation and safety:

• • Internal reporting. In some cases, using the employer’s reporting process can be important evidence. In others, it may be unsafe or futile. We help you think through that choice.
  • Agency action. Many claims go through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or similar agencies as part of the process. We can help you file or respond at that stage. If you want to preserve federal claims, it is essential to timely file a charge with the EEOC. We can help.
  • Lawsuit. If the agency process or internal steps do not resolve the problem — or if circumstances call for it — you may be able to file a lawsuit against your employer and, in some situations, other responsible parties.

A successful sexual harassment claim can sometimes recover:

• Lost wages and lost future earnings.
• The value of lost benefits.
• Emotional distress and other non‑economic damages.
• Reinstatement or front pay, in appropriate cases.
• Punitive damages in egregious situations.

Deadlines for taking action can be short and complicated. Talking with an attorney early can help preserve your options.

Talk with a Nashville Sexual Harassment Lawyer

You should not have to choose between enduring harassment and keeping your job. If you are experiencing sexual harassment or retaliation at work, HMC Civil Rights can help you understand your rights and what comes next.

Contact us online through our chat or email or call (615) 724‑1996 to request a confidential consultation with our team. These lines are open 24/7, leave your information when it is convenient for you and we will be in touch.