Gender Discrimination Lawyer on Sexual Harassment: Know Your Next Steps [Video Inside]

This is not intended to be legal advice and is based on the most recent laws and executive orders available as of 3/30/2026.

If you’ve experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, it’s common to feel powerless. When it comes from someone in a position of authority, it can be even harder to come forward for fear of facing consequences. You deserve to feel safe in the workplace. That’s why federal and state workplace laws empower you to take action after harassment. If your boss, coworker, or someone else in the workplace has made unwelcome sexual advances, a gender discrimination lawyer can help you take formal steps to secure damages.

If you want a compassionate attorney who supports you through each phase in this process, reach out to Michelle Cimino. As the leading employment law attorney in Rochester, she helps clients recover damages after experiencing workplace injustices, including harassment.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Explained

What is sexual harassment, and what should you do if you think someone in your workplace has harassed you? Sexual harassment generally means any type of unwelcome physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature. In New York workplace law, this specifically refers to unwelcome conduct that affects a person’s work environment or employment terms.

New York law offers stronger protections than federal law, meaning a single serious incident may be enough to have a valid claim in some cases.

Examples of harassment include:

• Unwelcome sexual comments
• Requests for sexual favors
• Unwanted physical contact
• Repeated sexual messages, images, or gestures

Moreover, if your boss or company fired you, overlooked you for a promotion, or penalized you for expressing concerns about sexual harassment, it counts as a form of retaliation.

The state also protects workers from harassment tied to any sex-based bias. If someone subjected you to harassment based on sex, gender identity, gender expression, or stereotypes, a discrimination lawyer can still help you.

If you want Rochester’s best employment discrimination lawyer in your corner, reach out to Michelle Cimino. With over two decades of experience working with victims of sexual harassment, she helps guide the claim process so you can recover from the experience.

How Michelle Cimino Helps You File a Claim

After sexual harassment, Michelle Cimino can support you as your personal gender discrimination lawyer. She starts by examining your situation to determine how to best position your case in the context of the law. Part of that conversation is understanding whether the harassment is legally tied to sex, gender, or gender-based stereotypes. She also assesses whether your case involves retaliatory actions to penalize you for expressing concerns.

Michelle works with you to compile all key evidence, including emails, texts, performance reviews, pay records, witness names, dates, and notes for each incident.

Next, she guides you through the complaint process through the New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR) and, when possible, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). When you file your claim with NYSDHR, the state may cross-file it with the EEOC to start a federal process if it applies to your circumstances. If your claim is successful, you could receive compensation for:

• Lost wages
• Front pay
• Emotional distress
• Medical or therapy costs
• Attorney fees

In addition, the employer may be ordered to create workplace policies. You might also receive reinstatement at your job.

You don’t need to deal with unwelcome workplace advances. And you shouldn’t have to grapple with punishments for speaking out about wrongdoing. With Michelle Cimino as your legal representation, you’ll have a stronger case, improving your chances of receiving damages.

Schedule a Private Consultation With a Gender Discrimination Lawyer

Sexual harassment doesn’t need to be rampant to be an issue. Even if it happens once, you may have a claim. When you reach out to Michelle Cimino, she will help you take legal action by filing a case with the New York State Division of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, if it applies to your case. If your case is successful, you’ll receive compensation for lost pay and emotional damages.

As the leading gender discrimination lawyer in Rochester, Michelle Cimino wants to support you after workplace harassment. Schedule a confidential consultation today.