Sexual Harassment Attorney in Tyler

Board-Certified. Employee-Only. Ready to Fight for You.

Sexual harassment can turn a productive workplace into something you dread walking into every day. Many employees who experience it try to stay silent, afraid that speaking up will cost them their job or their income. That fear is understandable, but suffering through it doesn’t make it stop. Beyond the professional consequences, harassment takes a real toll on your emotional and physical health and strains every relationship at work.

You don’t have to face this alone. At the Hommel Law Firm, I represent employees exclusively, not employers, and I’m ready to defend your rights.

Call me today at (903) 412-3788 or contact the firm online to talk through your situation.

What Counts as Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment isn’t limited to physical contact. The EEOC defines it broadly, and many employees don’t realize how much of what they’ve experienced actually qualifies. There are many forms of harassment that fall under federal law.

The EEOC states that sexual harassment includes:

• Unwelcome verbal conduct, including innuendos, epithets, sexual invitations, derogatory sexualized jokes, and unsolicited comments
• Visual messages that promote derogatory content, including drawings, photos, emails, posters, stickers, or flyers
• Unwelcome physical behavior, including groping, blocking, caressing, massages, sexual interference, simulated sexual activity, and sexual assault
• Threats, warnings, or demands for sexual favors as a condition of keeping a job or maintaining a position
• Suggestions, direct or implied, that offering sexual favors may result in employee benefits, a raise, or a promotion

You’re Protected from Retaliation

One reason so many employees stay silent is the fear that reporting harassment will make things worse. That fear has a name: retaliation. But federal and Texas law prohibit employers from punishing employees who report or complain about sexual harassment. If your employer demotes you, cuts your hours, or fires you after you speak up, that retaliation is itself an unlawful act.

Even if legal technicalities prevent recovery on the underlying harassment claim, you may still be able to recover wages and compensation for emotional distress caused by illegal retaliation. The law gives you more protection than you might think, and I can help you understand where you stand.

What to Document Before You Report

Before you report harassment, take a few minutes to preserve the details while they're fresh:

• Save copies of any relevant texts, emails, DMs, or voicemails somewhere outside your work device or work email (a personal phone, personal email, or printed copy) since access to those accounts can disappear the moment your employment ends. 
• Write down the date, approximate time, and location of each incident, along with as close to an exact quote as you can remember of what was said or done. 
• Note who else was present or nearby, even if they didn't react, since witnesses can corroborate your account later. 
• If the harassment relates to a performance review, schedule change, or other employment action, keep copies of those documents too, along with anything showing your performance before the harassment started, in case your employer later claims the action was unrelated.

Taking the First Step

Deciding to come forward is the hardest part. If you’ve been harassed at work, you don’t have to keep absorbing it. Since 1986, I have practiced as a trial lawyer and am board certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I have the background to take on employers who violate their employees’ rights, and I handle most cases on a contingent-fee basis, meaning no fees unless I recover for you.

Submit your case or call (903) 412-3788 to complete your intake. If Mr. Hommel believes you may have a case, we will schedule a consultation.