Sexual Harassment at the Workplace - Essay Example

Companies would also have to deal with unnecessary operational costs. In a hypothetical situation, these costs are identifiable when a senior member of the staff in the company goes on a business trip with a junior staff member. The senior member wants the junior member to satisfy their sexual needs and work-related obligations. In that case, the cost incurred in funding the junior member’s trip is a waste of company resources (Prekel, 2010). The writer argues that the consequences also extend to a company’s reputation.

For example, the writer postulates a situation whereby somebody discovers that a company has cases of sexual harassment. The person finds out again that the management of that company is lax in dealing with the harassment cases. The writer states that this revelation would dent the company’s image among clients and the public. Consequences under legal actions are such as costs the company will have to incur in litigation. By law, employers should account for any cases of sexual harassment under their purview regardless of their knowledge or ignorance of sexual harassment at the workplace.

Another possible consequence could be that a harasser who has faced disciplinary action can take advantage of the fact that, the company does not have a clear sexual harassment policy to challenge the action taken against him. This reaction means that the company would have to incur the cost of defending its action in a court of the law financially. On a personal level, victims get distressed and eventually resign from their jobs. This is common among female victims. Victims who brought legal action against their employers and then choose to resign from the job have to leave without letters of reference from their former employers.

The former employees are reluctant to recommend them because of bad blood. As a result, the victims find difficulty in getting new jobs. Unique consequences could be that the victims end up becoming harassers later. Other victims end up losing trust in their employees, therefore, they will question appraisals and promotions, even if they are out of innocent intentions (Prekel, 2010).The prequel laments that the effects of sexual harassment are costly. Her tone when discussing the ramifications for victims is sympathetic.

Prequel notes that the consequences of sexual harassment are not matters employers can ignore or deal with lackadaisically. She says that the hidden costs of sexual harassment are diverse. She suggests that employers should deal with cases of sexual harassment at the earliest opportunity. Prequel sees sexual harassment as a vice that both victims and employers should be concerned with eradicating to improve the workplace. On harassers, Prekel’s opinions are professional. Her insistence is that they should face formal disciplinary action and seek counseling (Prekel, 2010).