Workplace Sexual Harassment: Here's What You Need to Know

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Viridiana ValdesMarketing Director at Sherigan & Associates, Inc.

21 December 2020

Discrimination in the workplace can come in many forms, with some less obvious than others. Both workers and employers must correctly identify instances of discrimination to protect vulnerable parties and take action against it. One of the less apparent forms is sexual harassment.

Infographic 4 Minutes
Workplace Sexual Harassment: Here's What You Need to Know

Workplace sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome or unwanted verbal or physical contact that’s sexual in nature and can negatively affect the victim’s employment status or quality of life.

This covers a wide range of activities and behaviors such as:

  • Sexual favors
  • Sexually-charged banter
  • Advances
  • Comments or innuendos
  • Completed or attempted nonconsensual sex acts
  • Abusive sexual contact
  • Threats of sexual violence
  • Uncomfortable sexual jokes 

The signs that you’re experiencing workplace sexual harassment include being surrounded by sexually-charged images and language, such as suggestive photos and frequent usage of innuendos in any kind of conversation.

Another sign is discomfort due to the behavior of others. Even if their behavior isn’t directed towards you, the regular use of sexual slurs and insults, as well as gestures, comments, or actions can make you feel uneasy and dread coming into contact with them.

You may also be receiving unwanted sexual advances, sometimes bundled with promises or threats. For example, you could be being offered a big promotion should you agree to go on a date with a superior. Finally, you may be experiencing workplace sexual harassment if you receive punishment or retaliation after filing a formal complaint.

Here is an infographic with statistics and facts illustrating several different examples of sexual harassment, how this can happen and the steps you should take.

Sherigan & Associates reveal significant statistics and facts on the prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace

 

 

 

Viridiana Valdes

Viridiana is an experienced Marketing Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry. She is skilled in Business Process, Negotiation, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Management and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). She is a strong marketing professional with a Strategic Marketing focused in Marketing from Panamerican Consulting Group and Universidad Rafael Landivar. 

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21/06/2022 Trisha Davis
I have been working for my employer for almost 2 years now. For the last nine months or so I have been being harassed by one of my fellow coworkers. He consistently corners me off camera on the work site via in the bathroom elevators offices that do not have cameras and grabs/ hugs tried to kiss me with such great force I struggle to get him off of me. I repeatedly tell him please do not touch me I don’t like being touched. I have reported it to my supervisor and she looked me dead in my face and said “That’s what you get for being so friendly “. Months have gone by and I have now reported it to her boss because it’s becoming unbearable. Her boss then informed me this was the first time he has heard about it. I have talked to a few of my other female employees about this man and they have had similar encounters with him as well. I have tried to record him with my phone, I have gotten one 15 min clip. Although you can’t see him doing it you can here him and I talking and hear me telling him several time to “Please don’t touch me I do not like being touched”.