Harrell’s Employee Handbook, September 2023
Sexual Harassment The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (one of the federal agencies that enforce sexual harassment laws) currently uses the following guidelines: Sexual harassment may be defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexually harassing behavior need not be motivated by sexual desire. It occurs when: 1. The victim’s submission to such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment OR 2. The victim’s submission to or rejection of the conduct by the harasser is used as the basis for employment decisions and retaliation OR 3. The conduct unreasonably interferes with the victim’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. This means that managers may not ask for sexual favors from their coworkers. It also means managers may not make employment-related decisions based on an employee’s acceptance or refusal of sexual advances. It also means that no one – not a manager, not a co-worker, not a contractor, not a vendor, and not a customer – has the right to say or do things of a sexual nature that make another person afraid, embarrassed, or uncomfortable at work. It is important to remember that an individual can be subject to sexual harassment even if the harassment is directed at another person. For example, a hostile work environment may be created when someone observes conduct directed at another person, even if the person to whom the conduct is directed is not offended by the behavior. The Company will not tolerate sexual harassment in the workplace or at any company-sponsored activity, including social and sporting events.
Sexual Harassment Can Be Verbal or Non-Verbal Examples of verbal sexual harassment include:
• sexual or derogatory comments about men or women • cat calls or comments about body parts or sex appeal • calling someone a “babe,” a “hunk,” “honey,” or a similar phrase • jokes of a sexual nature • making someone or their partner the subject of sexual jokes or conversations
• turning statements into sexual innuendoes • making kissing sounds or wolf-whistles • writing comments of a sexual nature on walls, in elevators, in restrooms, in break rooms, in e- mails, or at other locations in the workplace • making sexually explicit comments • sending letters, notes, cartoons, e-mails, videos, or audio of a sexually suggestive nature
• repeated requests for dates • placing harassing phone calls • requests for sexual favors • talking about one’s sex life or the sex life of co-workers. Examples of non-verbal forms of sexual harassment include: • leering, winking, blowing kisses, or licking lips. • brushing against another’s body.
45|Page
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker