What Is Considered Sexual Harassment in The Workplace?

When people go to work each day in Atlanta, they usually want to focus on what they need to get done that day. The purpose of the job is to earn income and provide for themselves and their families. However, people also generally have coworkers, managers and other superiors that they work with and interact with on a daily basis. Co-workers may develop friendly relationships and discuss things other than their daily work tasks. Some may even develop friendships outside of the workplace.

There are other times when the interaction between co-workers is not as friendly though. There are times when co-workers or managers create uncomfortable situations and sometimes the situations may become hostile. One of the more common ways that this occurs is through sexual harassment.

There are two main ways this may occur. One is called quid pro quo. This occurs generally when managers promise raises, promotions or other benefits in exchange for sexual favors. The other main form is known as a hostile work environment. This is created when co-workers or managers say offensive things, make sexual advances, discuss things of a sexual nature that are considered offensive and make people uncomfortable.

Examples of Sexual Harassment

This type of harassment can occur in a number of different ways. It could overt in the form of making unwanted sexual advances, unwanted touching, requests for sexual favors, exposing oneself to other co-workers or other forms of direct harassment. It can also include less direct forms as well. It could based on people making repeated sexual comments about a certain gender, constantly making crude sexual jokes, having pictures or images of a sexual nature in their work space, talking about sexual fantasies and other forms that do not involve directly engaging another worker.

Either type of sexual harassment is illegal in Georgia. Workers who are subject to sexual harassment at the workplace could be entitled to compensation as well. There are certain requirements that must be met and the harassment must be more than just a passing comment. However, if workers are the victims of sexual harassment, they need to notify their employers and, if necessary, file a complaint with the appropriate agencies. Experienced attorneys understand this process and may be able to guide one through it.