An ex-Stanford University professor claims she was pushed out of her job for reporting sexual harassment. According to the former Stanford professor, she experienced stalking and extensive harassment from the professor who hired her.
The professor allegedly said he was “constantly thinking about” the woman, and would meet her at the gym uninvited. He also allegedly told the woman he had a crush on her, despite the fact she is married. At one point, the woman claims she was kissed on the lips by the professor.
Eventually, she reported the harassment to the school. However, the former Stanford professor claims she was met with resistance. Unlike the male professor, she was not tenured. She claims school administrators retaliated against her, eventually pushing her out of the university. Her husband, a philosophy lecturer at Stanford, was also allegedly pushed out.
Other Stanford faculty claim they have experienced retaliation for speaking out against sexual harassment. According to a research fellow at Stanford’s Hoover institution, the university has a reputation of intimidating those who speak up.
Can You Be Fired for Reporting Sexual Harassment?
Workers reporting sexual harassment have legal protections from retaliation. This includes communicating with HR, reporting the harassment to superiors, answering questions during an investigation or intervening to protect other workers experiencing harassment.
Employers are legally obligated to address issues involving harassment once it is brought to their attention. An employer must document corrective measures it took to address the situation.
If all else fails, women can file sexual harassment claims with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing within one year after an incident. An attorney can help women through the claims process and will offer legal options to hold employers accountable for retaliation.