Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
What is Sexual Harassment? Sexual harassment can take many forms including:- Unwanted sexual advances
- Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors
- Leering or staring; gestures; or displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, or posters
- Derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes
- Graphic comments, sexually degrading words, or suggestive or obscene messages or invitations
- Physical touching or assault, as well as impeding or blocking movements
What to do if you’re being sexually harassed at work
If you are the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, there are a few important steps you should take:- Report the incident to your supervisor or HR department.
- Keep a written record of the incident, including dates, times, and any witnesses.
- Immediately seek legal assistance from the attorneys at MSD LLP.
How prevalent is sexual harassment
Statistics on Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment in the workplace affects millions of employees every year. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center reports that 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. These statistics were corroborated by a survey cited by NPR, which showed a staggering 80% of women have experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lives. In California, however, according to a report from UC San Diego, reported incidences of sexual harassment are 5 percent higher for women and 10 percent higher for men than the national average. The study specifically found that:- More than 86 percent of women in California (compared with 81 percent nationally) and 53 percent of men (compared with 43 percent nationally) report having experienced some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime.
- Three out of four foreign-born men reported harassment compared to one out of two U.S.-born men living in the state.
- Four out of five lesbian and bisexual women have faced sexual assault compared with one in four straight women.
- Three out of four gay and bisexual men have faced aggressive sexual harassment (e.g., stalking, unwanted sexual touching) compared with one out of three straight men.
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