• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cook Brown LLP

Let’s Keep the Workplace Working

  • Home
  • About
  • People
    • Dennis B. Cook
    • Ronald W. Brown
    • Brian D. Bertossa
    • Terry A. Wills
    • Carrie E. Bushman
    • Lisa V. Ryan
    • Barbara A. Cotter
    • Stephen R. McCutcheon
    • Alexis Gabrielson
    • Daniel F. C. Kozieja
  • Practices
    • Employment Litigation
    • Labor Relations
    • Sexual Harassment
    • Wage and Hour
    • Prevailing Wage
    • Personnel Policies
    • Construction Litigation
    • Workplace Investigations
  • Programs
  • Updates
  • Contact
  • Careers
Home > Sexual Harassment > Test Your Knowledge – A Friendly Hug?

Cook Brown / March 27, 2018

Test Your Knowledge – A Friendly Hug?

A California state senator was reprimanded recently by the senate rules committee after an internal investigation into complaints that he hugged other senators and staff. The senate Rules Committee stopped short of a sexual harassment accusation but the senator agreed to stop hugging.

How did a Northern California county sheriff fare under a similar complaint?

  • In this case, the Plaintiff, a county corrections officer, alleged that the county sheriff created a sexually hostile work environment by repeatedly hugging her at sheriff’s office employee events such as parties, celebrations, and training sessions or meetings, over a 12-year period.

    The Defendants (sheriff and county) contended that even the Plaintiff described the sheriff’s hugs as brief and of the kind that one might give a friend or relative. The two were never alone when the hugs were given. The Defendants argued that nevertheless the hugs were “chest to breasts.” While the Defendants argued that the sheriff had also hugged male employees, the Plaintiff claimed that the sheriff typically shook hands with male employees.

  • Enter your email if you'd like to receive Cook Brown's Updates.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Filed Under: Sexual Harassment, Test Your Knowledge

Cook Brown

Primary Sidebar

Cook Brown LLP - Send me updates!

Send Me Updates!

Keep up with the ever-evolving challenges of California state and federal law in employment litigation, labor relations, prevailing wage, wage and hour, personnel policies, construction litigation, and workplace investigations.

Privacy Policy

Topics

Footer

Cook Brown, LLP

2407 J Street, Second Floor
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 442-3100

litigation-law-firm

  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Google Maps

Search:

Copyright © 2022 Cook Brown LLP · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Site Design by Delos Incorporated

  • Home
  • About
  • People
  • Practices
  • Programs
  • Updates
  • Contact
  • Careers