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Am I able to make a sexual harassment claim?

On Behalf of | Nov 22, 2019 | Sexual Harassment |

It’s common for those who have had an unpleasant experience at work to wonder if they can make a sexual harassment claim. Many people worry that they will be accused of making a big deal out of nothing or be retaliated against by their employer because they took legal action.

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a huge problem and can occur as a result of just one incident or as a result of many minor incidents that are pervasive enough to cause a hostile working environment. If you are unsure of whether the experience you had at work could constitute sexual harassment, you should consider whether the incident included one of the following characteristics.

You were offered something in return for a sexual act

“Quid pro quo” is a Latin phrase that translates to “something for something else”. Therefore, quid pro quo sexual harassment is a situation in which one employee offers another something, for example, a promotion or a pay raise, in return for an act of a romantic or sexual nature.

You feel deeply uncomfortable at work

If you can show that certain sexually related behavior exhibited at work is pervasive enough to create a hostile environment, you will be able to make a sexual harassment claim. A common example of this is a situation where your co-workers ask you questions, tell you jokes or send messages that are sexual in nature. This type of behavior can affect the way you feel at work.

You should not tolerate any form of sexual harassment at work since it can affect your mental health and your ability to grow in your career.

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