What is sexual harassment in the workplace?

Sexual harassment in the workplace refers to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that affects an individual’s employment, interferes with their work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. It can involve individuals of any gender or sexual orientation and may be perpetrated by anyone in the organization, including supervisors, coworkers, or even clients. There are two main types of sexual harassment: quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Quid pro quo harassment occurs when submission to or rejection of unwelcome sexual conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a condition of an individual’s employment, such as promotions, pay raises, or job security. Hostile work environment harassment occurs when unwelcome sexual conduct is pervasive or severe enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work atmosphere, negatively impacting an employee’s ability to perform their job effectively. Sexual harassment can take various forms, such as inappropriate touching, suggestive comments, sharing sexually explicit materials, or making offensive jokes. It is essential to understand that the intention behind the behavior is irrelevant; if the conduct is unwelcome and offensive, it can be considered sexual harassment.