Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Unfortunately, the workplace is the most common setting where sexual harassment usually takes place. It may seem that an office is an unlikely backdrop for a lawsuit or complaint about sexual harassment, yet most of the horrifying stories you hear from others or on the news have workplaces as the venue. Yet, how does one define sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment can be defined as an unsolicited behaviour that is sexual in nature manifested by the harasser, which generally violates another individual's right to privacy in the most offensive manner. In other countries, sexual harassment is a form of discrimination, which involves a range of behaviour from mild annoyances, like verbal abuse, acts of lasciviousness, and rape.

In the past, sexual harassment was something that people shun from the public, as they are ashamed of what people might think of them. Today, there are legislations governing such act in schools and in workplaces. In fact, it is one of the major factors under the employee discrimination law in the UK, which prohibits hostile attitude against others based on their sexuality, gender, race, religion, age, and religion to name a few. One of the most common type of sexual harassment that is covered by this law is the "quip pro quo," which means "this for that." This is when an employer or another employee asks an individual to do something sexually against their will or else their employment will be jeopardised.

Through trainings conducted by consultancy groups that help companies comply with the law, sexual harassment in the workplace can be eliminated at best. These consultancy groups will conduct seminars and provide programs that maximise workers' defences while creating an office environment that is ethical, inclusive, and respectful.

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