Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Sexual harassment occurs when an individual makes continued, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, to another individual, against his or her wishes.

Examples of Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of situations for example:
• Unwanted jokes, gestures, offensive words on clothing, and unwelcome comments and repartee.
• Touching and any other bodily contact such as scratching or patting a coworker's back, grabbing an employee around the waist, or interfering with an employee's ability to move.
• Repeated requests for dates that are turned down or unwanted flirting.
• Transmitting or posting emails or pictures of a sexual or other harassment-related nature.
• Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or posters.
• Playing sexually suggestive music.

Policies to Adopt to Prevent and Address Sexual Harassment

Your policy handbook needs a:
• sexual harassment policy,
• policy about how sexual harassment investigations are conducted in your company, and
• policy that forbids an employee in a supervisory role from dating a reporting employee and that details the steps required should a relationship form.

Discussion Question

What do you consider sexual harassment at work and why?

Videos

Check out these videos and let me know your thoughts…