Examples of sexual harassment:
- Your name is written on the bathroom wall.
- You find sexually explicit materials on your desk.
- A co-worker continues to touch you and “accidentally” rub
against you after you have said, “Stop”.
- You keep getting pressured to go out for a date.
- A supervisor makes it clear that your job may be in jeopardy
if you don’t go on a date.
Sexual harassment is common
- Although men can be victims of sexual harassment, it is
usually directed at women.
- It may be visual, such as leering or displaying pornographic
material.
- It may be physical, such as fondling or rape.
- It may be verbal, such as jokes or comments about one’s
body.
- It can affect one person or all who work in a demeaning
environment.
- It can happen to everyone, no matter their race, creed,
or socioeconomic status.
Some of the costs of sexual harassment to employers:
- Loss of productivity due to absenteeism
- High turnover
- Low employee morale
- Time and money spent in court
The effects of sexual harassment on the victim are
serious:
- Emotional, physical, and psychological stress
- Loss of sleep, impaired health, lowered self-confidence
- Lowered job performance
- Lowered ability to advance in career
What to do about sexual harassment
- Sexual harassment is uninvited—it is not your fault
if it happens to you.
- Familiarize yourself with your company’s harassment
policy. If a company fails to formulate an explicit policy,
it may be liable for encouraging a hostile environment.
- If a person speaks to you or touches you in a way that
makes you uncomfortable, tell them to stop.
- If they don’t stop, identify their behavior to them
as harassment.
- If a manager does not respond, he/she is liable for encouraging
a hostile environment.
