Posted by She steps into the office… tight skirt hugging every curve, the top buttons of her fitted blouse undone. As you begin to undress her with your eyes you realize, it’s Monday morning and all you can think about is … that report you need to have done by Wednesday… (Right) Okay, so we all have our moments of weakness, but we also have to know where to draw the line in terms of appropriate behavior in the workplace. Sometimes that line seems a little blurry. Someone’s friendliness may come off as flirty, but when a sexual harassment suit is in the cards, there isn’t any room for confusion. It is a serious offense and can easily ruin your life and career for good.
What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment constitutes any verbal or active behavior that is of a sexual nature and interferes with the functioning of a workplace. It is unwanted and uninvited sexual attention involving gestures, remarks or actions, which make a person, regardless of sex, gender or sexual orientation, feel intimidated, uncomfortable, embarrassed or unsafe.
Sexual harassment includes:
- Touching someone inappropriately- That means no hugging, bum-touching, shoulder or back rubbing, hand-grabbing, or any other physical gesture deemed inappropriate that make a person feel uncomfortable.
- Making offensive jokes or remarks- Using expressions like: “That’s so gay” is offensive and inappropriate language to use in any setting. And keep in mind that what seems like a harmless joke to you isn’t to everyone else. For instance: Why do Japanese Sumo wrestlers shave their legs? So you can tell them apart from feminists. It is degrading and humiliating.
- Making sexual requests or suggestions- Offering someone a promotion, or stating that you will allow them to keep their job on the condition they provide you sexual favors, even if you are saying it as a joke, is highly inappropriate and just plain wrong. Cat calls and whistles are also clause for a sexual harassment suit.
- Staring at or making unwelcome comments about a person’s body- Shouting “Nice legs/ass”; leering or inappropriate staring that make a person feel like an object are altogether disrespectful and can have a very harmful impact on a person’s self-esteem, and is grounds to file a sexual harassment suit.
- Displaying sexually offensive pictures- E-mailing a co-worker(s) a picture that is of a sexual nature can seriously offend someone. It is forcing them to witness something without their consent.
- Being verbally abusive because of gender- Using the word “girl” or “woman” as a put-down is again offensive and detrimental to a person’s self-esteem. Making remarks like “you run like a girl” is also completely sexist.
A sexual harassment charge is a serious matter with critical consequences. It can infiltrate all realms of your life and future. Consider that not everyone has the same kind of humor as you, so be respectful of your general environment. Inappropriate behavior can create a hostile workplace and can interfere with an individual’s overall work performance.
