Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This applies to employers with 15 or more employees, state and local governments, employment agencies, labor organizations, and to the federal government as well. (Sexual Harassment, 2005)
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. (Sexual Harassment, 2005)
? Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to the following:
? The victim as well as the harasser may be male or female and does not have to be a member of the opposite sex. (Sexual Harassment, 2005)
? The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or a non-employee. (Sexual Harassment, 2005)
? The victim does not only have to be the person who is harassed, but can also be anyone affected by the offensive conduct. (Sexual Harassment, 2005)
? Unlawful sexual harassment may occur without economic injury to or discharge of the victim. (Sexual Harassment, 2005)
? The conduct of the harasser must be unwelcome. (Sexual Harassment, 2005)
Prevention is the best tool to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace. Employers are encouraged to take steps necessary to prevent sexual harassment from occurring. They should clearly communicate to employees that sexual harassment w ...