Recent charges of sexual harassment against politicians, celebrities, sports, and others have made the issue a major topic in the national headlines. Conversations are starting about what it all means for workers in today’s workplace as both men and women share their experiences of being raped, harassed, and mistreated by bosses, supervisors, and other people.
Why do workplace trainings fail?
It is very common for a workplace to hold training for their employees to prevent sexual harassment. The reasons why so many workplace sexual harassment trainings fail were recently covered by NPR. Essentially, these sessions are made to reduce a company’s legal culpability for sexual harassment rather than to eradicate it. In other words, businesses are only instructing staff to sexually harass colleagues in a way that won’t result in legal action.
Sexual harassment is still prevalent
In spite of these trainings, workplace sexual harassment persists nationwide in all job kinds. Sexual harassment primarily comes in two types. These include quid pro quo, which is frequently thought of as the archetypal kind of sexual harassment. In certain circumstances, an employee is offered employment privileges or benefits in exchange for consenting to a supervisor’s or employer’s sexual advances. For instance, a manager might offer a clerk a better shift in exchange for her consent to go on a date with him.
The other prominent kind of sexual harassment in the workplace is hostile work environments, which happen when one or more workers engage in unwanted or improper sexual behavior. Coworkers who post photographs of barely clothed or naked women, ask sexual questions, send pornographic images, tell inappropriate jokes, or make lewd gestures can create hostile work situations. These kinds of behavior can be prevalent and make an employee feel insecure at work, even if they may not be as overt as a manager or boss asking out an employee.
Anyone can be the victim of sexual harassment
While relatively powerful men have received all of the recent attention in the news, it’s vital to keep in mind that anyone can experience workplace sexual harassment at any kind of employment site. As seasoned, experienced employment discrimination attorneys, we have witnessed this type of harassment take place in a variety of contexts, involving workers with different levels of education, money, and authority.
Male or female, anyone can engage in sexual harassment, and anyone can become its victim. The most crucial thing is to be aware of your alternatives if you are experiencing harassment or abuse at work. This involves discussing your case with a qualified employment discrimination lawyer to see if filing a lawsuit is feasible given the specifics of your situation.
At PLBH, we have more than 40 years of expertise assisting clients with their employment discrimination and harassment issues. We will collaborate with you closely and support you at every turn of the process. Set up a free initial consultation with us by calling (800) 435-7542 or emailing info@plblaw.com today to find out how we can assist.