Sexual Harassment in the Work Place - Research Paper Example

Sexual Harassment at the workplace Sexual harassment is any unwelcomed sexual behavior that makes a person feels offended or humiliated (Sexual Harassment). In the workplace, sexual harassment is characterized by request for sexual favors from the other party, physical or verbal conducts of sexual nature to other workers against their wish and unwelcomed sexual advances. These behaviors normally affect greatly the work morale of their as a whole. For this reason, employers are required to provide a sexual harassment free environment to their employees There are various characteristics that can be associated with sexual harassment behavior in the workplace. This behavior can either be noticed in individuals of the same gender or of the opposite genders. These behaviors can be categorized into either into physical, verbal or non-verbal behaviors as indicated below: 1. Physical behaviors These are behaviors that are accompanied by action from the person who is sexually harassing the other. The actions carried out include patting, touching the other person in sensitive areas like buttocks or breast area. The behaviors can also include the use of unwelcomed bodily contacts to the other party. Following a person might also be included in such behaviors especially if it involves the opposite sex. 2. Verbal behaviors Verbal behaviors can also be termed to be sexual harassment to some extent. The use of comments to the other person on their clothing, body or looks cold easily make the uncomfortable and this might not go down well with them. The use of offensive jokes especially if they are sexually oriented can also be included in this category of behaviors. 3. Non-verbal behaviors Although this category can easily be confused with those of physical behaviors, non-verbal behaviors do not necessarily have to involve physical action. This category involves behaviors such as repeatedly glancing and staring at a person in a manner that makes him or her feel uncomfortable or even the use of obscene gestures towards other people. It might also involve the display of sexually suggestive photos and pictures that can humiliate or embarrass the other person. Examples of sexual harassment behaviors To understand the discussion above well, below are examples of sexual harassment behaviors in different categories of behaviors discussed above: Examples of Physical behaviors It is assumed that all the examples below are done without the consent of the other person involved. a. massaging the other person around the neck and shoulders without his or her consent b. Kissing, patting sensitive areas or hogging especially in public areas in the workplace. c. Brushing oneself against the other person or just standing too close to them. d. Touching the other person’s cloths or body in a sexually suggestive manner. e. Squeezing or pinching the other person. Examples of Verbal behaviors a. Making sexual comments or innuendos towards someone of the same or opposite sex b. In the case of a supervisor or a boss, they may tend to concentrate on the employee’s appearance rather than their accomplishments. c. If one is repeatedly asking out a non interested person. d. To be too inquisitive about a person’s sexual life. e. Asking other people about their sexual preference or history f. Spreading lies or even rumors about other people’s sexual lives. g. Turning work discussions into sexual topics during working hours. Examples of Non-verbal behaviors a. Staring at someone that makes her or him feel embarrassed b. Making obscene gestures towards someone c. Use of sexual gestures and movements to other people. d. The use of facial expressions like blowing kisses or lip licking to other people in the office e. Display of sexually suggestive photos and pictures to other people in the workplace f. Rubbing oneself in a sexually suggestive manner when around other people in the workplace. When the above behaviors happen to a person, it clearly indicates that that person is being sexually harassed and the next course of action must be taken to prevent further occurrence of these behaviors. Preventing Sexual Harassment There are several ways that can be used I the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace. Some prevention techniques might involve the use of legal actions in the court of law while others might involve the use of disciplinary measures that have been set by the organization. The following are some of the ways that can be used in the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace. 1. The adoption of code of conduct by the organization. This code of conducts acts as guidelines on how employees within that organization are expected to conduct themselves and to each other within the workplace. Failure to abide by these codes of conduct can lead to serious consequence to the employee. 2. Reporting procedures. The organization can develop a reporting procedure that can be followed by the employees when they feel they have been sexually harassed. The reporting procedure helps in building confidence of the employee with what he or she is going to report. 3. Educating and enlightening the employees on the topic of sexual harassment so that they become aware of it and how they can keep themselves free from it when within or outside the organizations premises. 4. Sexual harassment can also be prevented n the workplace by designing strict rules and regulations for punishing any worker involved in this behavior. These rules and regulations help in setting behavioral boundaries of the workers. 5. In as much as the organization will be trying to prevent this behavior, workers should also put effort in ensuring that they report such behaviors thus discouraging it in the workplace. Sexual harassment can cause severe effect to an organization if not prevented or if proper measures are not put in place to punish those involve. The behavior can drastically reduce workers morale and this will directly affect the productivity of the organization. It is therefore important that an organization take the initiative to prevent and control sexual harassment behaviors in their workplace. Bibliography 1. Preventing Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault. (n.d.). Retrieved December 8th, 2010, from Hostos Community College: http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/publicsafety/cleryact/SexHrssmnt.html 2. Protect Your Business with a Formal Sexual Harassment Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved December 8th, 2010, from All Business: http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/laws-government-regulations-employment/580-1.html 3. Sexual Harassment. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6th, 2010, from Australian Human Right Commission: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/sex_discrimination/sexual_harrassment/index.html Read More