Former sex workers, many who turned to the industry to help make ends meet during the pandemic shutdowns, say they’re facing hostile work environments when returning to traditional jobs, reports Bloomberg News. Former sex workers have reported physically aggressive encounters and harassment from colleagues that have been brushed aside due to their prior means of employment. The more the sex work in question strays from societal norms about the way women and LGBTQ workers are expected to behave, the more likely it is to be used against an employee.
Like most employment discrimination cases, litigation related to sex work is usually settled out of court. The result is sparse case law to build off of while waiting for lawmakers to address the issue. Attorneys who file lawsuits relating to workplace discrimination or harassment based on previous sex work say the allegations fall neatly into sex discrimination protections under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.