Sexual harassment in the workplace is an ongoing problem. While advances have been made, some people seem reluctant to stop.
Many people get away with sexual harassment by making excuses to explain away their behavior or because others, such as their colleagues or bosses, do so for them. Here are some to watch out for.
Just being friendly
A squeeze on the shoulder, a rub of the back or an invitation to go out can, in some circumstances, be acts of friendliness. Yet, when they cause discomfort to the receiver or when they are repeated despite the receiver clearly not welcoming them, they could amount to sexual harassment. Doing such an action once is unlikely to amount to harassment, but if they form part of a pattern, then it may well do.
Just making a joke
“It was just a joke,” “It was just a bit of fun” are excuses people give to all sorts of inappropriate behavior. Examples could include making jokes about someone of a sexual nature, or pasting their head onto an erotic image and sticking it on the office noticeboard. Such acts likely amount to sexual harassment.
Just giving a compliment
“You look great in that top” or “ Do you know how beautiful you are?” can brighten up a person’s day in certain circumstances, but can ruin their week in others. A lot comes down to who is saying it to whom, the tone it is said in, and whether it is a one-off comment or part of a series of things.
A colleague you are close to outside work, saying it, it may be genuine support. A manager saying such a thing to an employee in an appraisal, or when talking about the chance of giving them a promotion, or a colleague who stares at you every time you walk past, saying such things day after day, might well amount to sexual harassment.
If you believe someone’s actions towards you amount to sexual harassment, then you may want legal guidance to learn more about what steps you can take to put an end to it and perhaps pursue compensation.