Sexual advances in the workplace
People grow in their careers day by day. Modern workers are busy and stressed with their competitive life. It’s not just the pressure of work duties that contributes to stress.Many employees find themselves facing various interpersonal issues, even sexual harassment.
Why is sexual harassment so prominent in the workplace? In order to answer this question, we need to understand first what exactly is considered sexual harassment and what are the different types.
Sexual harassment may include things like unwanted sexual advances, someone asking for sexual favours, and other actions that contribute to a hostile workplace. It is basically a violation of the Civil Rights Act, 1964 at workplaces. Unwanted sexual conduct is serious for anyone, whether a male or female.
Behaviours That May Be Considered as Sexual Harassment
Many sexual harassment cases have gone through the court system and been publicized. Still, young professionals who are just beginning their careers often face difficulty in identifying “good” touch or “bad” touch. The difference in touch is still tricky and hard to define. Unwanted sexual advances in the workplace are still contribute in making an environment hostile and offensive for any kind of work.
Sexual harassment behaviours can vary greatly. For example, a senior may ask for a sexual favour in exchange for giving a promotion or any other benefit. It may be a directly conveyed message or an indirect way to treat the other person. We can never assume the victim is always a woman. Men can also be victims. Furthermore, even a person of same-sex can be threatened.
Sexual Harassment Claim Types
- Quid pro quo harassment: A common example is to ask for sexual favours in order for an employee to get promotions and other favors. These favors may include assignments, bonus grants, incentives or saving the job. Any kind of sexual condition for employment is a big crime.
- Hostile Environment Harassment Claim: This is when employees create an offensive environment at the workplace by showing unwelcome conduct. This may be measured by:
- The frequency of such behaviour at the workplace
- If the conduct is patently offensive or hostile
- If the conduct is targeted towards a single person or selected victims.
- Type of conduct (physical, verbal or even both)
Such situations take time to be investigated so that the truth is uncovered. Many times people choose to keep quiet for the sake of their jobs and submit to unwanted sexual advances in the workplace. They do not treat it as the serious offence it is, which gives encouragement to the instigator to continue doing it and to find other victims. These instigators are evil people who make the environment unhealthy and create problems for other people. Sexual harassment can also lead to issues for these instigators. They go to live with legal judgments, depression, and stress. Even though it may be hard, it’s important for victims of sexual harassment to talk to an attorney and fight back against this appalling behavior.
