Sexual harassment takes form in all different ways. In fact, one in three women between the ages of 18 and 34 has been harassed in the workplace, according to the Huffington Post article.
The most common types of sexual harassment experienced in a workplace include:
- Gender Harassment. This occurs when a coworker or employer makes a derogatory comment or uses inappropriate language.
- Sexual Bribery: If a coworker or employer offers something in exchange for a sexual favor this would be sexual harassment. Even if the sexual act was consensual or never happened, the offer of a quid pro quo is a form of sexual harassment.
- Sexual Coercion: This is similar to sexual bribery but instead of a reward the harasser offers only punishment if you do not cooperate. This could include being taken off of assignments, moved to a different office, reduce number of vacation or sick days, or any number of other punishments.
- Inappropriate Jokes: Comments or jokes to you or others or about you or someone else that are sexual in nature is considered sexual harassment.
- Inappropriate Touching: Any unwanted or uninvited touching, sexual touching, or assault.
- Inappropriate Behavior: Inappropriate behavior would be any sexual behavior not appropriate for the workplace such as phone calls, texts, emails insistently inquiring about a date, comments about your looks, or anything similar.
The biggest take away is that ignoring the problem will not make it go away. It is natural to want to put your head in the sand and ignore the problem because we do not like to create confrontation. However, victims of sexual harassment will only find peace in the workplace once they speak up against their abuser and seek the proper remedies. Ignoring a harasser only provides the perpetrator with a sense of security that they can continue their behavior with you and potentially with others as well.
It does not matter if you are a female or male, no one has the right to subject you to inappropriate language or actions in the workplace by the workers, clients, or superiors.
At Bautista LeRoy LLC, we have extensive experience investigating and prosecuting sexual harassment claims. When you hire our firm, we will advance all costs associated with representing the client. If we do not win your case, the firm takes on the losses of the litigation costs. In fact, we only get compensated when we win the case. Simple as that. Give us a call at 816-221-0382 or contact us online.