Quid Pro Quo Harassment Attorney

Quid pro quo ("this for that") harassment occurs when a supervisor or person in authority conditions employment benefits — hiring, promotion, pay raises, favorable assignments — on submission to sexual advances or demands. Under Title VII, FEHA, and New York law, only one instance is needed to establish a claim, unlike hostile work environment claims that typically require a pattern.

Quid pro quo claims typically involve someone with authority over your employment. This includes direct supervisors, managers, executives, and anyone who has power to affect your job conditions. Under California and New York law, the employer is strictly liable for quid pro quo harassment by supervisors — meaning the company is responsible regardless of whether it knew about the conduct.

Consent under coercion is not true consent. If you felt pressured to comply with sexual demands because of the power imbalance, that is still harassment. The Supreme Court's Meritor decision established that the relevant question is whether the conduct was unwelcome, not whether you technically participated. Withdrawing consent and facing retaliation strengthens your claim.

You may recover lost wages, lost benefits, emotional distress damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees. California FEHA has no cap on damages. Under the NYC Human Rights Law, uncapped compensatory and punitive damages are available. If you lost a promotion or job opportunity, the value of those lost career prospects is also recoverable.