It should be well known that sexual harassment in the workplace is not tolerated. State and federal courts take very seriously claims that a person’s rights have been violated, and it is critical for employers and employees to do the same.
However, this may be easier said than done. People may know that sexual harassment is wrong, but they may not know what, exactly, sexually harassing behaviors are. In this post we will look at specific examples of three different ways people can be harassed on the job, including physical, verbal and psychological harassment.
Physical: This may be the most obvious type of harassment. It involves inappropriate or unwanted touching, grabbing, kissing, fondling or other types of physical contact. This kind of harassment can make people feel threatened and even scared for their safety.
Verbal: Too many people make the mistake of thinking that as long as they aren’t touching someone, they aren’t engaging in harassment. However, verbal harassment can also violate a person’s rights. Telling inappropriate jokes, making sexually-explicit comments and innuendos, and asking overly personal and intrusive questions about a person’s sexual experience are all examples of verbal sexual harassment.
Psychological: This type of harassment can also be referred to as a hostile work environment. A person who feels threatened, ridiculed or humiliated by co-workers or supervisors can be the victim of ongoing and serious harassment even though it may be more difficult to see or prove.
In any of these cases, there may be grounds for an employee to file a complaint. Claims of sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace should be taken very seriously and addressed immediately. If this does not happen, it can certainly be possible for the victim to pursue a lawsuit seeking significant penalties.