Lawyers For Sexual Harassment During The Hiring Process In NYC

Last updated on January 22, 2026

The hiring process can be intimidating enough. However, when you start facing sexual harassment during phone screenings, interviews or onboarding, it can make matters much more uncomfortable and complicated. Sexual harassment during hiring can manifest in various forms, from inappropriate sexual advances to quid pro quo situations where job offers are contingent on accepting unwelcome behavior.

As employment attorneys in New York City, our team at Eisenberg & Baum, LLP, is here to provide professional and tenacious guidance as you maneuver this daunting and stressful situation.

What Can Sexual Harassment Look Like During The Hiring Process?

Sexual harassment, either quid pro quo or hostile work environment, can take multiple forms during the hiring process. Here are a few examples of what it could look like:

• Hiring managers/other employees making inappropriate or sexual comments during your interview.
• Being asked inappropriate questions about your appearance during initial phone screenings.
• Being asked about your gender, marital status or other personal matters during initial phone screenings.  
• Receiving a job offer that is contingent upon sexual exchanges with your would-be supervisor.
• Enduring a toxic and hostile work environment as part of the interview process.
• Hiring managers/interviewers making unwanted sexual advances with you during the interview.
• Being shown offensive or sexually explicit imagery at any time during the interview process.
• Being required to list your sexual history or provide other inappropriate or unnecessary information in your job application.
• Being subject to inappropriate or sexually explicit gestures by any party involved in the hiring process.

The harassment you endure can either be blatantly obvious or subtle. Either way, if the behavior of the employer you are interviewing with makes you uncomfortable, you have the right to take legal action.

What Laws Protect Job Applicants From Sexual Harassment In New York City?

There are several laws in New York designed to protect job applicants and interviewees against sexual harassment. These laws include:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: This federal law prohibits discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment, during the hiring process.
• New York State Human Rights Law: Provides broad protection against sexual harassment for all individuals seeking employment. It provides specific protections to job applicants applying for or interviewing at New York workplaces with at least four employees.
• New York City Human Rights Law: Offers strong protections against sexual harassment, ensuring a fair hiring process. The law protects against harassment for employers of all sizes throughout the city. It can protect against quid pro quo and hostile work environment-related incidents.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) also has resources available for those facing sexual harassment during hiring. If you have any questions about these laws and how they may apply to your situation, you can reach out to us. You can do so by calling us at 212-847-4999.

What Remedies Are Available To Job Applicants Who Face Sexual Harassment In New York?

If you experience sexual harassment during the hiring process, you can pursue the following legal remedies as part of your claim:

• Emotional distress: Damages related to the pain, suffering and emotional harm you endured as a result of the harassment. Remedies for this can also come in the form of punitive damages.
• Lost wages: This can include any income applicants could have reasonably expected to earn had they been hired for the position.
• Attorney’s fees: This can include covering the cost of contingency rates, flat fees and other additional expenses related to your case.
• Injunctive relief: This can require the employer to take actionable steps to identify and stop sexual harassment throughout their workplaces through workshops, training or employer policy changes.

The types of remedies you pursue can depend on your situation and the type of sexual harassment you experienced and how you experienced that harassment.

Contact Us For A Free Consultation If You Have Faced Sexual Harassment In The Hiring Process

If you are applying for and interviewing for jobs, the last thing you want to deal with is feeling uncomfortable or objectified.

If you experience sexual harassment of any kind during the hiring process with an employer, make sure you document your experiences, gather statements from witnesses and contact our office at 212-847-4999 or by visiting our contact form page. We can help you pursue the damages and the justice you deserve. We offer free consultations.