Post by onebluestocking on Nov 2, 2017 14:45:54 GMT
Here's the definition of sexual harassment according to the EEOC:
Just to point out the section I bolded: asking someone out is allowed, but badgering them about it repeatedly after being rejected would not be. A fling with a co-worker isn't strictly prohibited, but many workplaces have policies against office romances for various reasons, so they're probably best avoided. Especially if one person is in a position of power and this might be misinterpreted. In many of these cases, the men say afterward that they considered them consensual. They could just be lying after the fact, or possibly the women felt threatened by their authority without any explicit threats being made (for example, were afraid of retaliation that the man didn't actually mention.) That said, I know people who have happily married their bosses and co-workers, but those relationships began with requests to go to lunch or out for drinks (normal dating) as opposed to groping, climbing atop them, or demands for nude massages during business meetings (harassment.)
I don't see that it matters whether the harassment occurs between two men, two women or a man and a woman. Obviously an underage teen is not okay under any circumstances.
Sexual Harassment
It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person’s sex. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general.
Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex.
Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted).
The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.
It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person’s sex. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general.
Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex.
Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted).
The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.
Just to point out the section I bolded: asking someone out is allowed, but badgering them about it repeatedly after being rejected would not be. A fling with a co-worker isn't strictly prohibited, but many workplaces have policies against office romances for various reasons, so they're probably best avoided. Especially if one person is in a position of power and this might be misinterpreted. In many of these cases, the men say afterward that they considered them consensual. They could just be lying after the fact, or possibly the women felt threatened by their authority without any explicit threats being made (for example, were afraid of retaliation that the man didn't actually mention.) That said, I know people who have happily married their bosses and co-workers, but those relationships began with requests to go to lunch or out for drinks (normal dating) as opposed to groping, climbing atop them, or demands for nude massages during business meetings (harassment.)
I don't see that it matters whether the harassment occurs between two men, two women or a man and a woman. Obviously an underage teen is not okay under any circumstances.