Sexual Harassment

Is Sexual Harassment a problem in the workplace?

Sexual Harassment means

Bothering someone in a sexual way.

It is much better than it was thirty years ago.

90 % of sexual harassment cases are men preying on women

Laws now protect employees and students against harassers

You can lose your job, be sued and go to jail, for sexual harassment. Before the 90s, sexual harassment was prevalent in schools and in the workplace.

Like other sexual deviancies,

The goal of sexual harassment is a matter of taking power away from another.

Women and Men

That work in non-traditional jobs are more likely to be sexually harassed.

A traditional job for a woman is:

Nursing, Elementary teacher, CashierConstruction is non-traditional profession for a

woman.

Traditional work for men might be:

Construction, Auto Mechanic or Dock Worker. A non-traditional job for a man is Nursing.

Harassment is defined from the victim’s point of view

If feelings are hurt, even if meant as joking or flirting, it is still sexual harassment.

Comfort Zones

Change depending on the person.

And change depending on

Gender, culture and relationship.

Learn the eight laws,

regarding sexual harassment in CaliforniaThere are four California laws and four US,

Federal laws.

State laws

1. Visual2. Verbal3. Physical4. Sexual Favors

Federal Laws

1. Quid Pro Quo2. Sexual Favoritism3. Harassment by a Non-Employee4. Hostile Environment

Visual is

What can be seen. It includes gestures, pictures, staring, stories and poems.

Verbal includes

What can be heard. It includes obscenities, rude noises, and sexual jokes.

Physical includes

Touching, patting, blocking impediment, stalking, groping and, of course, rape.

Sexual Favors

Includes Quid Pro Quo and Sexual Favoritism

Quid Pro Quo

Is Latin meaning “This for That”

Sexual Favoritism

Concerns people in leadership positions dating subordinates

Hostile Environment

Is either Visual, Verbal or Physical (California State Laws), where harassment is so repetitive that it unreasonably interferes with work or the victim's desire to go to work.

Harassment by a Non-Employee

This is when outside customers, salespeople or representatives harass people within an organization.

How do you stop a harasser?

If you were to sue, the victim must have told the harasser “No”, just like rape.

If saying “No” is was done verbally,

the harasser might deny that the harassed had spoken to them. A formal business letter must be written. This letter should be sent as registered mail, so that the harasser is required to sign for having received the letter.

The letter should be sent to a harasser addressed

to the business / school where both the harasser and the harassed work or attend.

This letter should be

written in the “Broken Record” method. In this method you must repeat what they did and that you did not like it, as well as the possible consequences if this behavior continues.

The first paragraph is

the purpose: The harassed states, I do not like it when ….

The second paragraph is

amplification: The harassed explains how it made them feel.

The third paragraph is

closure: Completing this letter with, If this behavior does not stop, I will ….

In addition to going to the harasser to say “no”,

the harassed should talk to the harasser’s supervisor.

If the harassed victim chooses to go to court and sue,

evidence for civil court needs to be created.

A diary marking dates and times and locations of the harassment is

recommended.

The harassed should also tell friends about the harassment in the diary, along with the telling to a supervisor.

Dates, times and what was discussed should all be written into this diary.

The friends, supervisor become witnesses and the diary is admissible in civil court.

With the registered letter saying “No”

addressed to the harasser, combined with the diary and friends as witnesses; it is time to get a lawyer.