Sexual Harassment	
Sexual Harassment (page 1 of 2)	
What is sexual harassment?  What can you do if it happens to you?  Copy this article and keep it at 
home to help you if you experience sexual harassment at a job.  Follow the steps
 to help you 
solve the problem before it causes you to quit your job.  Don’t let a sexual harasser 
stand in your way of a profitable job and good career.  
What is sexual harassment?  Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual 
advances or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature by a 
person of the 
opposite or same sex.  The law does not prohibit (consider illegal) simple teasing, 
offhand comments, or isolated (one-time) incidents that are not serious.   Harassment 
is illegal  when it is so frequent (happens often) or severe (bad) that it:  a) Creates 
hostile, offensive, or uncomfortable work environment, or b) When harassment 
results in victim being fired or demoted.  The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, supervisor in another 
area, co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employers such as a client or
 customer.  Sexual 
harassment include the following behaviors that create a hostile work environment:
1) Frequent verbal comments:  Remarks, even jokes, can be considered harassment.  Sexual harassment 
occurs when words, jokes, questions, or comments are about a person’s sex, body, or body parts.  Some 
people may try to pass off a harassing statement as a compliment such as, "I wish my wife’s legs were as 
pretty as yours."  This is not a compliment.  It is a statement about a person’s body which can make the 
person feel uncomfortable.  Using words as "honey," "sweetheart," and "baby doll" can be harassment.
2) Physical acts:  In a work situation, touching, hugging, restricting a person’s movement, assault, or rape 
are considered sexual harassment.  A supervisor teasing an employee by standing at a doorway and not 
allowing the employee to pass could be defined as sexual harassment.
3) Gestures:  Outlining a person’s body with the hands or looking someone up and down with "elevator 
eyes" can be defined as sexual harassment.
4) Visual objects:   Sexually offensive calendars, cartoons, posters, notes, invitations, or pictures as
 well as 
having nude dancers at office parties can be defined as sexual harassment.
5) Sexual advances:  Requiring favors such as hugs, kisses, and even more as basis for employment 
benefits, transfers, or promotions is sexual harassment.
6) Threats:   Employers may not threaten a worker who tries to report (or reports) sexual harassment — 
with loss of employment or physical harm.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) handles sexual 
harassment cases.  The EEOC knows if your state has an agency that also helps 
with sexual harassment.  EEOC also handles discrimination related to age, 
disability, pregnancy, race, and religion.
What should you do if you are being sexually harassed?  You need to take 
steps.  The following steps will help you stop the harassment and help you get 
documentation (written information) to present to your supervisor and a 
government agency.  Without documentation, it is impossible to prove your case.

Permission to use with usworkworld.com subscription.  	Sexual Harassment (page 2 of 2)	
QUICK CHECK:	
10. a) Define "document."  b) List 4 things to 
  document after you confront the harasser.
11.  What 2 things should you tell the supervisor?
12.  Why will most employers not tolerate this type 
of behavior in their business?
13.  If the behavior continues, what 5 things should 
you continue to document in your notebook?
14.  a) Where do you keep your document? b) Why?
15.  What 2 things do you tell harasser in a letter?
16.  What is the EEOC web site address?
17.  If you were a manager of a restaurant, what will 
you do if the cashier came to you with a sexual 
harassment complaint against the cook?  Give 
your answer in an essay of 25-words or more.
18.  a) If you have high paying good job, will you 
let a sexual harasser make you quit?  b) Give a 
reason for your answer. 
1. 
a) Define sexual harassment. b) What 3 things 
does the law not consider illegal?  
  c) Harassment is illegal when it is so often and 
bad that it results in what 2 things? 
2.  Give an example of a sexually harassing:  
  a) verbal comment, b) physical act, c) gesture.   
3.  List 6 visual objects that may be considered 
sexually harassing.
4.  What may employers  not require as a basis for 
employment benefits or promotions?
5.  If a worker reports sexual harassment, what 2 
threats are illegal for the employer to make?
6.  a) Which U.S. agency handles harassment 
claims?  b) What else will this agency know?
7.  List 5 types of discrimination EEOC handles.
8.  List 4 steps you take to confront the harasser.
9.  Why is it best to have a witness?
1. 
Confront the harasser:  First, tell the harasser that you will not tolerate any more harassment.  
Second, explain the behavior you think is offensive.  Third, ask a trusted coworker or friend nearby to 
serve as a witness to what you say to the harasser.  It is best if a witness sees the sexual harassment — so 
that it is not just your word against the harasser’s word.  Fourth, document (keep a written record) in a 
notebook or on a computer: a) date and time you talked to the harasser , b) name of witness that was nearby, 
c) what you said, and d) what the harasser said.
2.  Tell a supervisor or Human Relations Office staff:  If the behavior continues, tell a supervisor or 
Human Relations office staff.  First, explain that the harasser has been told by you in front of a witness 
what behavior is offensive.  Second, tell the supervisor or HR office staff the name of your witness.  Most 
sexual harassment behaviors are stopped at this point by the supervisor or HR staf f.  Most employers will 
not tolerate this behavior in their business because it can lead to expensive legal cases.  Document (write 
down) the date of your meeting, which person you told, and their answer to you.
3.  Continue to document the sexual harassment:   If the behavior continues, write a report: 
a) what behavior is still happening, b) date and time it happened, c) witnesses, d) what you did, e) what the 
harasser's did.  Keep your report at home since your proof may disappear if your report is kept at the work 
site or on a computer at work.  Next, write a letter to the harasser telling him or her:  1)  What actions you 
want stopped.  2) That you will file a complaint with a government agency if the 
behaviors continues.  Date, sign, and copy the letter.  With a witness present, give 
copy of the letter to harasser. Keep a copy. 
4.  File a complaint:   Harassment complaints are filed with EEOC (www.eeoc.gov).  
EEOC will help you find your state's agency that also handles sexual harassment.   You 
will be given papers to file a complaint.  If sexual harassment is proven, action will be 
taken against the harasser to prevent further harassment and to remedy your loss.