The Reality of Power and Silence
The Silence Around Workplace Harassment
It happens everywhere from boardrooms to breakrooms.
A boss makes a sexual comment that isn’t funny.
A supervisor lingers too long.
An executive crosses boundaries again and again, and everyone knows it—but no one says a word.
That silence isn’t ignorance. It’s survival.
Phillips & Associates represents employees harassed or retaliated against by CEOs, business owners, law-firm partners, and senior executives. Founder William K. “Bill” Phillips, a former investment banker and real-estate investor, combines corporate insight with courtroom tenacity. He uses strategy, finance, and negotiation to expose cover-ups, navigate power dynamics, and achieve results that protect both careers and dignity.
In too many workplaces, harassment doesn’t persist because no one sees it.
It persists because power shields it.
Fear, Silence, and the Cost of Speaking Up
When a CEO, partner, or executive behaves inappropriately, accountability often collapses. HR hesitates. Colleagues look away. The victim faces an impossible choice: speak up and risk everything, or stay silent and protect their career.
Retaliation can be quiet but crushing—exclusion from meetings, lost promotions, or withheld references. For high-performing professionals, that risk can feel unbearable.
Understanding the Freeze Response
Deirdre Arato, LPC, Neuro-Psychotherapist, explains:
“When a supervisor crosses a line, the nervous system doesn’t allow for logic, it shifts into survival mode. The freeze that follows isn’t weakness; it’s protection.”
Healing begins when survivors recognize their response was protective—not passive.
Harassment is not about attraction.
It is about power and control.
Why People in Power Get Away With It
Those with authority often blur boundaries or make subordinates feel “lucky” to be included. Power becomes both weapon and shield.
Common Tactics Include:
- Sexual jokes or comments about appearance
- Unwanted touching or close contact
- Persistent advances after rejection
- Promises or threats tied to career growth
- Excluding or undermining employees who resist
When the harasser is a rainmaker or senior leader, companies often protect them to “avoid disruption.”
Loyalty shifts toward power—not people.
The Illusion of Consent
Not every case looks like harassment on the surface. Some appear “consensual”: messages, dinners, even relationships. But when someone’s career depends on pleasing a superior, consent isn’t equal.
“Yes” may be survival—not choice.
That’s why modern employment law continues to challenge supervisor-subordinate relationships where power imbalance exists.
Changing the Culture of Power
Accountability must start at the top. HR must be independent. Investigations must be transparent. Retaliation must lead to real consequences.
Under Title VII and state human-rights laws, employees are protected from harassment and retaliation. Speaking with an experienced workplace sexual harassment lawyer helps employees preserve evidence and assert their rights.
Phillips & Associates represents employees throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida, helping victims secure justice, restore their careers, and reclaim their dignity.
Why Clients Choose Phillips & Associates
What sets the firm apart is its combination of strategy, compassion, and results.
Led by William K. “Bill” Phillips, the firm approaches every case with both business discipline and litigation strength. With:
- 8,000+ employment-law cases handled
- Nearly 2,000 cases litigated
- Over $300 million recovered
Phillips & Associates is recognized as one of the nation’s leading firms for sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation law.
Join the Movement: 2026 National Plaintiffs’ Summit
The National Plaintiffs’ Summit on Sexual Harassment and Employment Discrimination
February 22–24, 2026 | Eden Roc Miami Beach
Topics Include:
- Litigating harassment cases involving executives
- Understanding trauma responses in clients and witnesses
- Building evidence in retaliation claims
- Trauma-informed trial strategy
- Policy and media advocacy
Learn more or register: https://www.americanconference.com/national-plaintiffs-summit/
About Phillips & Associates
Headquartered in New York City, with offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida, Phillips & Associates has recovered over $300 million for victims of workplace misconduct. The firm is widely recognized as one of the largest and most respected employment-discrimination law firms in the region.