Hostile Workplace Harassment

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In 2015, there were 6,822 receipts filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This number is only the number of times that a charge was filed, this does not take into account how many times someone was sexually harassed and did not report it. Sexual harassment is defined as, “conduct typically experienced as offensive in nature, in which unwanted sexual advances are made in the context of a relationship of unequal power or authority” (Kane-Urrabazo p. 609). There are two main types of sexual harassment: quid pro quo and hostile work environment harassment. Harassment can occur in many places and all employees should feel safe in reporting any harassment that has occurred without having to worry about repercussions resulting …show more content…
Quid pro quo, meaning this for that, is when an employee is asked for sexual favors in exchange for a promotion or raise, or if the employee does not do what the person says a demotion or a pay cut. This type of harassment must occur between a supervisor or manager and a lower ranking employee because whoever is the harasser has to be able to hold up their end of the quid pro quo. The second form of harassment is a hostile work environment. This harassment involves a situation in which an employee is unable to perform his or her job, or the workplace is intolerable due to sexual harassment. A hostile work environment is harassment in the form of sexual innuendos, sexual remarks, or lewd acts that make a person unable to perform his or her job. This type of harassment can occur between employees, managers, supervisors, customers, men, or women. Anyone can make a workplace a hostile environment. A report of a hostile work environment does not have to come from a person who is being harassed. It can come from someone who has witnessed any type of sexual harassment or unwanted …show more content…
Men and women can be both the harasser and the one being harassed. Sexual harassment can occur between the same sex as well. Though sexual harassment can occur to both men and women, women are more likely to be sexually harassed than men. A study showed that, “Women supervisors were 137% more likely to be harassed than females in non-supervisory positions” (“Sexual Harassment”). This statistic shows that sexual harassment is a problem and needs to be stopped. A report of sexual harassment does not have to come from the person who is directly being harassed. If a person feels that their well-being or job is affected by the conduct they can claim sexual harassment. Harassment can occur at work and off-site. This may include parties or vender sites. Also, if someone is not at work and sexually harassed by a co-worker it can be seen as sexual harassment in the workplace. If someone is harassed at any of these places or any work related function they can claim sexual harassment in the

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