Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

These vocabulary flashcards cover the definitions, legal classifications, prevalence statistics, and remedial strategies for sexual harassment in the workplace based on Chapter Ten lecture notes.

Harassment

The act of doing or saying things to make another party feel uncomfortable or putting them at risk in some way based on attributes such as gender, race, disability, age, or beliefs.

Workplace Harassment

Harassment that occurs while a person is doing their job or is on the way to or from work, involving anyone the harassed person comes in contact with because of work.

Sexual Harassment (Federal Law Definition)

Unwanted verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature in a workplace or educational setting that creates a hostile environment, interferes with performance, or is made a condition of employment.

Quid-Pro-Quo

A Latin term meaning "this for that," referring to a type of harassment where a person in authority demands sexual favors from a subordinate in exchange for job benefits.

Hostile Work Environment

A workplace situation where conduct is unwelcome, based on sex, and severe or pervasive enough to alter the conditions of employment and create an abusive atmosphere.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

The agency that receives approximately $15,000$ sexual harassment cases in the US each year, with approximately $11\%$ of current claims involving men filing against female supervisors.

Louis Harris and Associates Telephone Poll

A survey of $782$ workers which found that $31\%$ of female workers and $7\%$ of male workers claimed to have been harassed at work.

NGO Study on Sexual Harassment

A report indicating that sexual harassment is prevalent where victims have high education and economic leverage, with $80\%$ of respondents reporting unfair treatment by supervisors.

Adverse Effects (Productivity)

Consequences including losses in productivity, greater employee turnover, and increased use of sick leave due to harassment.

Physical and Psychological Symptoms

Stress-related problems affecting $35\%$ of victims and emotional distress affecting $96\%$ of victims, including nausea, fatigue, headaches, and weight changes.

Feminist Scholars' Perspective

The view that sexual harassment is a form of oppression used by men to maintain male-dominated power structures.

Employer Policy Statement

A remedial step involving a written document that condemns harassment, defines it, spells out disciplinary actions, and prohibits retaliatory action.

Management Response System

An employer strategy that includes an immediate reaction and investigation by senior management followed by the keeping of thorough records.

Exit Interviews

Interviews conducted when an employee leaves an organization to uncover any complaints and acknowledge by signature the reasons for leaving.

Complaints Committee

A measure to reduce sexual harassment that recommends the committee be headed by a woman.

Employee Remedial Actions

Steps taken by victims such as recording every incident in detail, keeping records of job performance, and consulting human rights commissions.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia 2005

The source used in the notes to define sexual harassment as a form of unlawful sex discrimination under US federal law.