Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Joy Kosmicki
Written Communication
Research paper Sexual Harassment in the workplace Sexual Harassment is a form of discrimination. It is unwelcomed sexual advances made by an employer, co-worker or superior. There are many different kinds of sexual conduct, verbal, visual or physical. But any kind of sexual harassment is against the law as evidenced by the growing numbers of court cases and litigations. It also affects working conditions, relationships between individuals, and creates a hostile environment. Sexual harassment complaints are often ignored or not reported at all. But most U.S corporations are taking this more seriously. Employers are setting up better policies and procedures to handle sexual harassment because the financial risks along with potential criminal charges and public relations nightmares are too high to no longer ignore the problem. So the goal of any company should be to have zero claims of sexual harassment and creating a safe and respectful environment for all employees by training programs and stiff penalties at the workplace for such actions. Sexual harassment is not necessarily about sex it is about power. When someone in the workplace uses sexual behavior to control you, whether it is behavioral or physical in nature, and it makes you feel uncomfortable, that is sexual harassment (Moses, 2002). Both men and women can be sexually harassed. Someone of the same or opposite sex can harass you. Examples of sexual harassment include the following: Verbal or written harassment can be comments about a person’s appearance, jokes with a sexual content, or a direct request for sexual favors or constantly asking for a date. Physical harassment can be direct assault, impeding or blocking an individual’s movement, touching, hugging, or any other unwelcome advances. Nonverbal harassment can be looking up and down a person’s body, derogatory gestures or facial expressions, or
Written Communication
Research paper Sexual Harassment in the workplace Sexual Harassment is a form of discrimination. It is unwelcomed sexual advances made by an employer, co-worker or superior. There are many different kinds of sexual conduct, verbal, visual or physical. But any kind of sexual harassment is against the law as evidenced by the growing numbers of court cases and litigations. It also affects working conditions, relationships between individuals, and creates a hostile environment. Sexual harassment complaints are often ignored or not reported at all. But most U.S corporations are taking this more seriously. Employers are setting up better policies and procedures to handle sexual harassment because the financial risks along with potential criminal charges and public relations nightmares are too high to no longer ignore the problem. So the goal of any company should be to have zero claims of sexual harassment and creating a safe and respectful environment for all employees by training programs and stiff penalties at the workplace for such actions. Sexual harassment is not necessarily about sex it is about power. When someone in the workplace uses sexual behavior to control you, whether it is behavioral or physical in nature, and it makes you feel uncomfortable, that is sexual harassment (Moses, 2002). Both men and women can be sexually harassed. Someone of the same or opposite sex can harass you. Examples of sexual harassment include the following: Verbal or written harassment can be comments about a person’s appearance, jokes with a sexual content, or a direct request for sexual favors or constantly asking for a date. Physical harassment can be direct assault, impeding or blocking an individual’s movement, touching, hugging, or any other unwelcome advances. Nonverbal harassment can be looking up and down a person’s body, derogatory gestures or facial expressions, or
References: Anderson, W. L., & Bouravnev, A. (2011). Sexual Harassment: the Good, and the Bad, and the Ugly?. Franklin Business & Law Journal, (4), 31-37. Retrieved from http:// www.franklinpublishing.net Equal Rights Advocates (n.d) Retrieved from http://www.equalrights.org/publications/kyr/shwork.asp McDonald, P. (2012). Workplace Sexual Harassment 30 Years on: A Review of the Literature. International Journal of Management Reviews, 14(1), 1-17, doi:10,1111/j1468-2370,00300.x Moses, D. (2002). A Description Study Of Issues Associated With Sexual Harassment In The Workplace. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Dorrance Publishing.