If you have experienced sexual harassment or retaliation in Rochester, our employment attorney can help you file a claim and hold your employer accountable.
Work should be about building your career, not surviving harassment. Yet in Rochester, NY, too many employees still face sexual harassment on the job, whether it’s inappropriate comments, unwanted touching, constant advances, or retaliation after speaking up.
At Megan Thomas Law, we help workers across Rochester and the Capital Region fight back against harassment and intimidation. We understand that many local businesses are small and may not even have a Human Resources department. That doesn’t mean you’re unprotected. New York law gives you powerful rights — and we’re here to make sure they’re enforced.
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual conduct that creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment. It can involve supervisors, coworkers, vendors, or even customers.
Examples include:
In New York, harassment does not have to be “severe or pervasive.” Even one incident may qualify as sexual harassment if it’s more than a trivial inconvenience.
This is a common issue in Rochester, where many workplaces are small businesses, restaurants, shops, or family-run operations. Not having an HR department does not take away your rights.
Here’s what you can do:
New York law applies to all employers, no matter how small. Even if there’s no HR office, your employer still has legal obligations to prevent harassment and respond appropriately when it happens.
The New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) provides strong protections for Rochester workers:
Even if your employer has no HR staff, the law is still on your side.
Harassment can happen anywhere, but in Rochester we often see it in:
Wherever you work, you have a right to a harassment-free environment.
If your workplace has no HR, try:
If the harasser is the boss — or if you’re uncomfortable — you can skip this step and go straight to filing a complaint with the state.
We’ll help you determine the best path forward, which may include:
If your claim is successful, you could recover:
NYS Division of Human Rights – Albany Regional Office
Address: 1 Commerce Plaza, Albany, NY 12260
Phone: (518) 474-2705
Website: https://dhr.ny.gov
We can help you decide whether to file through these channels, pursue a lawsuit, or both.
If you’re experiencing sexual harassment in Rochester — especially at a workplace with no HR department — you may feel trapped. But you are not powerless. At Megan Thomas Law, we’ll help you navigate the process, protect your rights, and fight for the justice you deserve.
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You’ve dealt with enough.
The harassment, the excuses, the retaliation — it all ends now.
Start your claim. Get what you’re owed.
