Stalking is one of the most alarming forms of workplace sexual harassment. It can leave workers feeling unsafe, stressed and isolated on the job. Whether it involves unwanted attention from a coworker, supervisor or even a client, stalking can seriously affect a...
Workplace Sexual Harassment
Why does quid pro quo sexual harassment appear consensual?
Many types of workplace sexual harassment are clearly not consensual. If a coworker insults you about your sexual preference or makes inappropriate jokes about the way that you look, it’s obvious that this is not something that you wanted to happen. You’re being...
Why don’t some employees report sexual harassment?
In many cases, sexual harassment goes unreported forever. In other cases, there’s just a delay. Someone may eventually come forward, but the harassment they faced was months or even years before. But why does this happen? Wouldn’t someone who is experiencing...
Artificial intelligence can lead to workplace harassment
Many businesses are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to improve workplace efficiency. AI may be used to automate tasks, improve management, streamline customer service, predict challenges, and analyze data. While AI can be used for many good reasons, people may...
Sexual harassment and complex power dynamics
Even when a sexual harassment case feels fairly straightforward, it’s important to look at the power dynamics in the relationship. What you’ll often find is that these play a significant role in how the harassment occurs and why it is possible. To some degree, many...
What are the main types of workplace sexual harassment?
Most people know that workplace sexual harassment is illegal. However, they may struggle to define sexual harassment or give clear examples of it. Typically, there are two different types of sexual harassment. People who learn about what constitutes sexual harassment...
Should employees be expected to smile at customers?
If you have ever worked in the hospitality industry, you’ll be only too aware of the expectations on you to be friendly toward customers. If you are working back in the kitchen that probably does not exist, but for any front-of-house job in a bar, cafe or restaurant,...
Does sexual harassment require physical touch?
One reason that so many perpetrators get away with workplace sexual harassment is that so much goes unreported. People who suffer it might assume an employer won’t take it seriously, perhaps because there was no physical contact involved. Sexual harassment without...
Is sexism worse in the tech industry?
The tech industry has a problem with women – even though a lot of high-tech companies promote themselves as beacons of innovation and progress. A recent $15 million settlement by Snapchat Inc. over its discriminatory treatment of female employees in California only...
Reasons workplace sexual harassment may go unreported
Workplace harassment may manifest in various forms, but one of the most despicable is sexual harassment. This may happen when an employee experiences unwanted advances or actions of a sexual nature from colleagues, supervisors or even customers. While the emotional...