Understanding Cyber Sexual Harassment: What It Is and How to Protect Yourself

Florida Laws on Cyber Sexual Harassment

Employees in Florida are protected by both state and federal laws that prohibit sexual harassment, including its digital forms:

• Florida’s Sexual Cyberharassment Act – Often called Florida’s “revenge porn” law, this statute makes it unlawful to post or distribute sexually explicit images of a person without their consent. In a workplace context, this applies to coworkers or supervisors who share private photos to intimidate, control, or humiliate an employee.
• Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) – The FCRA prohibits harassment in employment based on sex. Sexual comments, explicit messages, or sextortion threats delivered through digital means may constitute workplace harassment under this act.
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – This federal law prohibits sexual harassment and discrimination. It protects employees against online sexual harassment when it creates a hostile work environment or leads to tangible job consequences such as demotion or termination.

When workplace harassment occurs through emails, workplace messaging apps, or texts, these laws give employees avenues to hold employers accountable. A skilled attorney can determine whether the inappropriate behavior violates these protections and guide employees in filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR).

Types of Workplace Cyber Sexual Harassment

Cyber sexual harassment can take many different forms in the workplace. Common examples include:

• Unwanted sexual messages, such as persistent digital communications that contain offensive jokes, flirtatious remarks, or inappropriate requests for dates
• Non-consensual image sharing, which involves coworkers circulating intimate photos or videos without consent, either privately or through workplace chat groups
• Sextortion by supervisors or managers, including threats to fire, demote, or withhold promotions unless the employee provides sexual favors, images, or communications
• Cyberflashing on work devices, which involves sending sexually explicit images through email, text, or workplace messaging platforms without the recipient’s consent
• Online stalking by colleagues, including monitoring an employee’s social media accounts, sending repeated unwanted messages, or using digital tools to track their personal activity

Each of these forms of harassment can create a hostile work environment, undermine employee safety, and expose employers to liability. Importantly, both coworkers and supervisors can be responsible, but employers are ultimately obligated to address harassment and prevent retaliation.

Steps Employees Should Take If Harassed at Work

Employees who face workplace cyber sexual harassment should take deliberate steps to protect themselves and strengthen any future legal claim:

• Save all digital evidence. Screenshots of messages, saved emails, or records of chat conversations are powerful proof. Do not delete these communications, even if they are distressing to keep.
• Report the harassment internally. Follow the company’s HR procedures or employee handbook guidelines for filing a complaint. Document the time, date, and method of your report, and keep copies of any responses from HR or management.
• Watch for retaliation. Retaliation can include demotion, reduced hours, unfair performance evaluations, or termination after filing a complaint. Keep careful records of changes in treatment or workplace conditions following your report.
• Seek legal advice. An attorney familiar with sexual cyber harassment in Florida can help determine whether your case qualifies under state and federal laws, file complaints with the EEOC or FCHR, and pursue damages in litigation.

Taking these steps ensures that employees protect both their rights and their ability to hold employers accountable if the harassment continues.

Why Legal Guidance Matters in Workplace Cyber Sexual Harassment Cases

Workplace harassment cases involving technology require a thorough investigation and a strong legal strategy. At Cruz Law Firm, P.A., our Florida cyber sexual harassment lawyers provide comprehensive legal assistance by:

• Proving harassment – We analyze digital evidence, workplace policies, and witness accounts to establish a hostile environment or unlawful behavior.
• Filing complaints – Our team represents clients in complaints before the EEOC and FCHR, ensuring all deadlines and procedural requirements are met.
• Preventing retaliation – We act swiftly when employers try to punish employees for reporting sexual harassment.
• Pursuing damages – Our attorneys seek compensation for lost income, emotional distress, and harm to an employee’s career.

Our track record includes over $15 million in recoveries for clients facing unlawful treatment at work. Plus, our testimonials speak for themselves, with one client calling us “extremely knowledgeable and a fierce advocate in fighting to make things right.” With nearly 20 years of combined experience, our attorneys are prepared to guide employees through even the most sensitive and complex cases.

Speak with a Florida Cyber Sexual Harassment Lawyer Today

If you are experiencing cyber sexual harassment in the workplace, you do not have to face it alone. Federal and Florida laws, including the Sexual Cyber Harassment Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act, give you protections, but you need strong advocacy to hold your employer and harassers accountable.

At Cruz Law Firm, P.A., we are committed to protecting employees across Florida from workplace sexual misconduct, whether it occurs in person or online. We understand the devastating personal and professional toll of cyber harassment and provide confidential, strategic representation tailored to each client’s circumstances. Bringing nearly 20 years of combined legal experience and a history of securing meaningful results for clients, we are here to fight for your rights.

Every day matters when harassment occurs. Do not delay in protecting yourself and your career. Contact us today to speak with a Florida cyber sexual harassment lawyer. All consultations are confidential.