Sexual Harassment

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Sexual Harassment

• The Issue is Respect

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• Sexual harassment is a serious issue in the
  workplace. It has a negative impact on the
  victim, can result in disciplinary action
  (including termination) for the harasser, and can
  create legal liability for the employer.No one
  wins.

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Typical Company Sexual Harassment Training Program

• Define Sexual Harassment.
• To prevent sexual harassment in the workplace by
  developing a clear understanding of what sexual
  harassment is and how it impacts people.
• To explore the responsibility of each employee to
  help maintain an environment free from harassment
  by being aware of behaviors that can offend
  people and by clearly communicating that
  offensive behavior must stop.

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Typical Company Sexual Harassment Training Program

• To develop an environment where employees respect
  and value each other as individuals.
• Review Companys Sexual Harassment Policy.
• To understand who to contact in addressing sexual
  harassment in the workplace.

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Legal Definition of SH

• Sexual harassment is a form of gender
  discrimination and violates both Title VII of the
  1964 Civil Rights Act as well as State
  discrimination laws. The Equal Employment
  Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal
  agency that enforces the federal law.

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Legal Definition of SH (Cont)

• The EEOCs guidelines define sexual harassment as
  unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
  favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a
  sexual nature when
• Submission to such conduct is made an implicit or
  explicit condition of employment
• Submission to or rejection of such conduct
  affects employment opportunities or
• The conduct interferes with an employee's work or
  creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive
  work environment.

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Practical Definition of SH

• TWO KINDS of Sexual Harassment
• Quid Pro Quo
• Hostile Environment

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Quid Pro Quo

• Where employment decision or expectations are
  based on an employees willingness to grant or
  deny sexual favors.
• Examples
• Demanding sexual favors in exchange for a
  promotion or a raise
• Disciplining or firing a subordinate who ends a
  romantic relationship
• Changing performance expectations after a
  subordinate refuses repeated requests for a date

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Hostile Environment

• Where verbal or non-verbal behavior in the
  workplace
• Focuses on the sexuality of another person or
  occurs because of the persons gender
• Is unwanted or unwelcome, and
• Is severe or pervasive enough to affect the
  persons work environment

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Hostile Environment

• Examples
• Off-color jokes or teasing
• Comments about body parts or sex life
• Suggestive pictures, posters, calendars or
  cartoons
• Leering, stares, or gestures
• Repeated requests for dates
• Excessive attention in the form of love letters,
  telephone calls or gifts
• Touching brushes, pats, hugs, shoulder rubs or
  pinches
• Assault / rape

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DSU Sexual Harassment Policy

• Policy
• Training
• Acknowledgement form
• Contact information