{"id":2153,"date":"2019-03-29T21:15:15","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T21:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-labor-employment-law\/?p=2153"},"modified":"2023-10-26T03:42:49","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T03:42:49","slug":"sexual-harassment-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-labor-employment-law\/blog\/sexual-harassment-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"Sexual Harassment in the Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"
You believe you may have encountered sexual harassment at your job. Whether it\u2019s same sex harassment in the workplace or an intimidating work environment, it may get worse if you don\u2019t do something about it now.<\/p>\n
A recent survey found that over 80 percent of women and over 40 percent of men have been assaulted or sexually harassed at some point. The workplace is one of the most likely places for someone to encounter sexual harassment.<\/p>\n
The first step is learning more about whether the behavior you\u2019ve encountered qualifies as illegal. Then, you can take steps to resolve the situation and make sure it doesn\u2019t happen again. Sexual harassment is stressful, but there are laws in place to protect you. We\u2019ll define what sexual harassment is (including examples) and then go over what you should do about it.<\/p>\n
In the workplace, sexual harassment may involve a tangible loss. This means that in failing to comply with sexual requests or demands, you paid a consequence. Here are some examples of tangible losses:<\/p>\n
But the inappropriate behavior doesn\u2019t have to result in a tangible loss to qualify as harassment. Any sexual harassment<\/a> is illegal in Arizona and can cause a toxic work environment or emotional distress. You may have experienced a co-worker or manager violating your rights or making sexual comments to you.<\/p>\n Or perhaps you\u2019re experiencing unwanted advances, meaning you\u2019ve been inappropriately propositioned in a sexual way. Maybe you even witnessed employees sexually harassing a customer. In any of these scenarios, telling your supervisor (and potentially seeking legal counsel) is advisable.<\/p>\n Sexual harassment can be subtle or hard to notice, so it\u2019s important to know what to watch for. Here are some examples of someone at your work sexually harassing you:<\/p>\n If a person you work with is displaying any type of behavior that makes you uncomfortable, the sooner you deal with it, the better. These are just a few of the behaviors that could qualify as harassment at your job.<\/p>\n Although we focused mostly on harassment in a professional environment in this article, you may also wish to contact a legal professional about other types of harassment. Or if you have any questions about the statute of limitations<\/a> on harassment in the workplace.<\/p>\n The examples we provided above should help give a better understanding of whether you\u2019ve been sexually harassed at work or not. Whether the harasser is a colleague, contractor, or manager, their behavior is illegal. If the way their actions are causing you emotional distress or a tangible loss, you should get them to stop as soon as you can. So, what should you do if you\u2019ve encountered sexual harassment in the workplace?<\/p>\n In addition to reporting the event(s) to your supervisor or HR, you might find it helpful to ask an attorney about your situation. You may also wish to get legal advice on sexual harassment outside the workplace.<\/p>\n Sexual harassment essentially means unwanted sexual advances, including crude remarks or unwelcome flirting. It involves one party preying on another by being suggestive or inappropriate.<\/p>\n Sexual assault<\/a>, on the other hand, is physically acting upon these threats. Behaviors like groping someone, rubbing against someone, as well as rape, all qualify as sexual assault. It\u2019s worth noting that each workplace has its own standards for harassment or assault.<\/p>\n People often consider harassment<\/a> to be solely sexual, but other types of harassment exist. Gender-related harassment may overlap with sexual harassment, though it doesn\u2019t always. So, how can you know if you\u2019ve experienced this type of harassment? Gender related harassment behaviors include:<\/p>\n These are a few examples of gender-related harassment, though other behaviors may also qualify. The best way to find out whether you\u2019ve been subjected to gender-related harassment is to do more research and consult a legal professional<\/a>.<\/p>\n Harassment can be an embarrassing topic, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should ignore it. The fact of the matter is that sexual harassment is always illegal and there are laws in place that are on your side. An experienced attorney can walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.<\/p>\n The first thing you must do if you\u2019ve encountered harassment at work is notify your HR department or boss. Then you can file a charge if your complaint doesn\u2019t bring you a satisfactory resolution.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re ready to educate yourself further or take action, contact our employment law team<\/a> today to setup a consultation.<\/p>\nExamples of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace<\/h2>\n
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How to Handle Sexual Harassment<\/h2>\n
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Sexual Harassment vs. Sexual Assault<\/h2>\n
Gender-Related Harassment<\/h2>\n
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Assistance for Employees in Arizona<\/h2>\n