Sexual Harassment in the Work Place

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based

on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. The Civil Rights Act of 1991 (Pub. L. 102-166) (CRA) amends several sections of Title VII. In addition, section 102 of the CRA amends the Revised Statutes by adding a new section following section 1977 (42 U.S.C. 1981), to provide for the recovery of compensatory and punitive damages in cases of intentional violations of Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Harassment & Discrimination

Ben-Ezra & Katz, P.A. has a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment in the workplace. For our workplace to be free from sexual harassment, we depend on our employees to be the first line of defense.

We are holding this program to help familiarize you with our policies and the different types of behavior that are not appropriate in our workplace.

Expectations At the end of this course, you will:

- Recognize behavior that could be considered sexual harassment

- Have the knowledge to avoid behaving in a way that could be interpreted as sexual harassment

- Understand the possible consequences of sexual harassment

- Know your role and responsibility in creating a work environment free of sexual harassment

- Understand policies and procedures for reporting inappropriate behaviors and/or sexual harassment

Defining Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome Sexual Advances

Requests for Sexual Favors

Verbal of Physical Conduct or a Sexual Nature that CreatesA Hostile Work Environment

Expressed Implicitly or Explicitly

Behavior Effects Work Performance

Hostile Work Environment

Quid Pro Quo

Subjecting Employees to Harassment

eMail and Monitoring

Voice Mail and Monitoring

Internet Usage and Monitoring

Domestic and Sexual Violence Leave

What is Sexual Harassment!

 

It is unwelcome, unwanted sexual behavior that makes a student feel uncomfortable.

It is behavior directed at a person because of his or her sex.

Sexual harassment can be:  male to female; female to male; female to female; male to male.

Sexual harassment can take many forms.  It may be physical - verbal - visual.

 

What is Sexual Harassment!

 

It is unwelcome, unwanted sexual behavior that makes a student feel uncomfortable.

It is behavior directed at a person because of his or her sex.

Sexual harassment can be:  male to female; female to male; female to female; male to male.

Sexual harassment can take many forms.  It may be physical - verbal - visual.

 

Inappropriate Behaviors at Work

Three primary groups of inappropriate behavior

- Verbal

- Non - Verbal

- Physical

Risky Behaviors - Verbal

- Derogatory comments of a sexual nature or based on gender

- Comments about clothing, personal behavior, or a person’s body

- Sexual or gender-based jokes or teasing

- Requests for sexual favors

- Repeated requests for dates

- Terms of endearment, such as “honey”, “dear”, “sweetheart”, “babe”

- Sexual innuendoes

- Tales or stories of a sexual nature

- Grunts, whistles, cat-calls, hoots, sucking noises, lip-smacks, and animal noises

- Obscene phone calls

- Lies or rumors about a person’s personal or sex life

Risky Behavior – Non-Verbal

- Staring

- Looking a co-worker up and down

- Making gestures of a sexual nature

- Leering or making sexually suggestive looks

- Making facial expressions of a sexual nature” winking, licking lips

Risky Behaviors - Physical

- Leaning over, invading a co-worker’s personal space

- Inappropriately touching a person or person’s clothing

- “Accidentally” brushing up against another person

- Indecent exposure, mooning, or flashing

- Blocking someone’s path with the purpose of making a sexual advance

- Uninvited neck or shoulder massage

- Deliberately touching sexually, or pinching

- Pressing or rubbing up against a person

- Stalking

- Grabbing

- Kissing, hugging, patting, stroking

- Actual or attempted sexual assault