A Guide to Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Sexual harassment remains a pervasive issue in the workplace, despite advances in protective procedures and laws. According to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), charges alleging sexual harassment filed for the fiscal year 2021 are over 14,000, indicating a continued reality of this problem that affects both men and women. Here is everything you need to know about sexual harassment in the workplace.

Sexual Harassment Definition

Sexual harassment is a type of discrimination or criminal act that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The US EEOC defines it as "unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that 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."

Types of Sexual Harassment

There are two types of sexual harassment from a legal standpoint: quid pro quo and hostile work environment.

• Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when vital workplace decisions are made based on a person's submission or rejection of an unwanted sexual advance or overture.
• A hostile work environment exists when unwelcome sexual advances create an offensive or intimidating working environment that directly affects an employee's ability to do their job.

Third-party sexual harassment, in which the person harassed or offended by a hostile work environment may not be the direct target or participant in the harassment itself, is also recognized in legal defense.

What Constitutes Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment may be verbal, non-verbal, or physical, and may include unwelcome deliberate touching, cornering, or leaning over, unwanted sexual looks or gestures, suggestive or sexual facial expressions, pressure or threat for sexual favors or dates, crowding personal space, inappropriate touching or rubbing, following an individual or blocking their path, consistent staring, sexually suggestive visuals, sexually suggestive names, whistling, catcalling, sexual jokes or innuendos, and personal questions.

Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Employers, managers, and top-tier supervisors can do several things to ensure workforce safety by effectively managing and preventing sexual harassment from taking place. It is necessary to adopt a strict workforce safety program with a stern sexual harassment policy in place, clearly identifying the acceptable and unacceptable behavioral parameters, and the consequences, economic and legal, for sexual harassment complaints. Every single person at an organization needs to be well versed in the parameters of sexual harassment and workforce safety, which means organizing mandatory workforce safety training, such as the Preventing Sexual Harassment course offered by 360training.

Conclusion

It is essential to take sexual harassment seriously and take steps to prevent it from happening in the workplace. 360training's Preventing Sexual Harassment course is a great resource to educate and train everyone in the organization, from employees to managers and supervisors, to effectively handle and avoid unwanted sexual advances. With a solid sexual harassment policy, vigilant monitoring of the workplace, and the right training, we can create a safer and healthier work environment for all.