Anatomy of Sexual Harassment
No business, CEO, or employee is immune from instances of
sexual harassment.
"Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for
sexual favors, and other verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual
harassment when submission to or rejection of
this conduct 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." - EEOC
What is Sexual Harassment?
BUT REMEMBER...
"Harassment does not have to be of a sexual
nature, however, and can include offensive
remarks about a person's sex. For example, it is
illegal to harass a woman by making offensive
comments about women in general." - EEOC
Sexual Harassment Examples Include: Tel l ing "dir ty " jokes, making sexual comments,
engaging in sexual "banter"
Making unwanted sexual advances, invi tat ions or
comments
Displaying sexual ly or iented posters, pic tures, or
objects in the workplace
Any unwanted groping, grabbing, pat t ing, or
touching of another employee, or interfer ing wi th
an employee 's abi l i ty to move
Making repeated requests for a date or engaging
in unwanted f l i r t ing
Sending sexual ly expl ic i t " jokes, " s tor ies, or
pic tures v ia emai l
P laying sexual ly expl ic i t movies, v ideos, or music
in the workplace
Hint ing that an employee wi l l receive a benef i t (a
raise or promotion) in return for a sexual favor
Implement a
comprehensive
Anti-Harassment
Policy
Provide a multi-
channel complaint
procedure
Provide regular
anti-harassment
training to all
employees
Best Practices to Prevent Sexual Harassment
Conduct a complete
and thorough
investigation of
employee
complaints
Hold all employees,
including owners and
executives to the
same standards
Do not retaliate
Implement a third
party employee
complaint hotline
Remind employees
of personal
consequences for
engaging in sexual
harassment
Involve an independent
third party investigator in
complex complaints or
those involving company
owners or executives