Business Law And Sexual Harassment In The Workplace

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Name:
Institution:Date:
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) defines sexual harassment as any unwanted or unwarranted conduct on the basis of gender which consequently affects an individual’s job. It is a crime under the law and it violates the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Legally, sexual harassment is defined as “unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions and a hostile work environment. Sexual harassment refers to “unwanted sexual advances, whether touches, looks, pressures to have sex or even jokes." This problem has persisted in the workplace and affected directly or indirectly the lives of many people adversely CITATION Woo08 \l 1033 (Woods & Buchanan, 2008). Unfortunately, the issue has escalated in the recent past and it shows more must be done to ensure a conducive working environment for everyone. Sexual harassment affects the victims and the organization negatively. The productivity and performance of sexually exploited employees is low. These heinous crimes transcend the workplace and affect the mental state of the victim which also strains their social circles and often some victims become depressed.
There are two main types of sexual harassment. ‘Quid pro’, which refers to some form of ‘bribery’ using sexual favors at the work place. The victim has to offer a sexual favor in exchange of a job related favor which is not merited. Quid pro is applicable where there is a direct impact on the individual’s job. It is usually common when a person is in a positi...