Unacceptable Office Behavior
There are many activities or behaviors that are deemed inappropriate; however, sexual harassment is arguably one of the most severe and most common. If you are unsure as to what constitutes sexual harassment or other unacceptable behaviour in the workplace you should consult your company’s policies or the HR department to find out what their specific regulations and definitions are. In general, sexual harassment is enforceable by law and there are some common standards and examples that are recognised as inappropriate. Los Angeles sexual harassment attorneys from California Legal Team have put together this guide to help you identify unacceptable workplace behaviour.
There are many different act that could be considered as sexual harassment, and the vast majority fall into one of three categories: visual, verbal, or physical sexual harassment.
Visual Sexual Harassment
This includes but is not limited to:
- Leering
- Sexual gestures
- Displaying sexual or sexually suggestive objects and images
- Indecent exposure
Verbal Sexual Harassment
This includes but is not limited to:
- Making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes
- Verbal sexual advances or propositions
- Verbal abuse of a sexual nature
- Graphic commentaries about a person’s body
- Using sexually degrading words to describe a person
- Sexually suggestive or obscene written content, letters, notes, or invitations
- Unwelcome innuendos, hints, or suggestions
- Inappropriate inquiries into a person’s sexual behaviour and love life
- Whistling at a person or group of people
Physical Sexual Harassment
This includes but is not limited to:
- All and any unwanted physical contact such as touching, caressing, massaging, sexual assault, etc.
- A strip search conduct by or in front of a person of the opposite sex
- Signs of physical dominance such as blocking or impeding another person’s path
There are also two other common types of sexual harassment that do not fit into any of the above categories: unwanted sexual advances and quid pro quo sexual harassment.
Unwanted Sexual Advances
This includes any behaviour that has been expressly stated by another to be unwanted or inappropriate. Sexual harassment is often understood to be multiple instances of inappropriate and unwanted sexual acts, however, it can also be just one instance.
Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment
This form of sexual harassment is when a person in a higher position or a position of power (such as the owner of the business, a manager, employer, or a direct superior employee) offers career benefits or tries to influence another person’s employment in exchange for sex or other sexual acts. Also, offering reprisals after receiving a negative response to sexual advances could be considered as quid pro quo sexual harassment.
If you witness any of these examples happening to others or experience them yourself, you should contact your HR department immediately and report it. If the inappropriate behavior continues, contact the Los Angeles sexual harassment attorneys at California Legal Team to help you. We ensure that our clients are expertly represented and all issues are dealt with respect and professionalism.
