One of the issues with sexual harassment is that it can take many forms. This can lead to some confusion, either with the harassers not realizing that what they are doing is wrong or even with the victims not feeling sure that it’s really harassment.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some common examples so that you can see what it may look like:
- Making sexual jokes or jokes about someone’s gender
- Making sexual advances that are unwanted
- Sending text messages or explicit photos to someone’s phone
- Asking someone for sexual favors, even when done in a joking manner
- Physically touching someone in a way that makes them uncomfortable
- Telling someone that the advancement of their career depends on their ability to provide sexual favors
- Telling someone that these sexual favors are an expected part of their job
- Pressuring someone, verbally or otherwise, to have a physical relationship
- Repeatedly asking someone to go out on a date when they have made it clear that they do not want to do so
- Having discussions in the workplace about sexual encounters or other such topics
Some of the most common areas where people push the envelope, so to speak, are with sexual jokes and conversations. They may not even have intended them for the person who feels harassed, but the topics could still create a hostile or uncomfortable workplace environment. People need to understand how their actions impact others and what they can and cannot do in the office.
Have you gotten harassed or discriminated against? You need to know what legal rights you have.
