Answer the following questions before reading. What does the phrase “sexual harassment” suggest to you? Write down any questions you may have about sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a form of violence against others, a violation of their human rights and an offense that is incompatible with human dignity. Many countries recognize sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination. It is important to understand that sexual harassment is a controversial topic wherever it is discussed. There is considerable confusion as to what behavior constitutes sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is any unwelcome words or actions of a sexual nature or based on sex that: (1) creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment or (2) the submission to or rejection of which affects a decision concerning the target’s employment status or conditions. Although both women and men experience sexual harassment around the world, sexual harassment is a problem that particularly affects women. Sexual harassment can include:  A woman harassing a man  A woman harassing a woman  A man harassing a man  A man harassing a woman Sexual harassment has no boundaries. Any worker regardless of race, sex, age, and/or economical or educational status could be sexually harassed. It can come from anyone: a supervisor, a professor, a co-worker, a client, a vendor or a contractor. There are two types of sexual harassment which include quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Quid pro Quo Harassment: the victim’s refusal or acceptance of behavior influences decisions concerning employment or conditions of employment, e. g. a manager tells his assistant, "Perform a sexual favor for me and you will get promoted”, or “Perform a sexual favor for me or you will not get promoted."Sexual harassment in the workplace is a form of violence against others, a violation of their human rights and an offense that is incompatible with human dignity. Many countries recognize sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination. It is important to understand that sexual harassment is a controversial topic wherever it is discussed. There is considerable confusion as to what behavior constitutes sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is any unwelcome words or actions of a sexual nature or based on sex that: (1) creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment or (2) the submission to or rejection of which affects a decision concerning the target’s employment status or conditions. Although both women and men experience sexual harassment around the world, sexual harassment is a problem that particularly affects women. Sexual harassment can include:  A woman harassing a man  A woman harassing a woman  A man harassing a man  A man harassing a woman Sexual harassment has no boundaries. Any worker regardless of race, sex, age, and/or economical or educational status could be sexually harassed. It can come from anyone: a supervisor, a professor, a co-worker, a client, a vendor or a contractor. There are two types of sexual harassment which include quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Quid pro Quo Harassment: the victim’s refusal or acceptance of behavior influences decisions concerning employment or conditions of employment, e. g. a manager tells his assistant, "Perform a sexual favor for me and you will get promoted”, or “Perform a sexual favor for me or you will not get promoted."  Example 1: In a job interview, the company manager Alexander tells Maria, a summer intern, that she'll have a permanent job if she has sexual relations with him.  Example 2: Ivan's assistant Susanna travels with him on a business trip, but she refuses to sleep with him. When they return to the office, Ivan reassigns Susanna to a less responsible clerical position in the department. Hostile Work Environment Harassment: the harasser or harassers’ behavior creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.  Example 1: Male employees make daily comments over a long period of time about the sexual life and body of their female co-worker and the comments are audible to the co-worker.