Sexual harassment is an increasingly antisocial activity at workplaces and even social places. Harassment is a kind of activity that is not appropriate or welcoming. Some behaviors are unwelcoming to the person at the workplace, such as touching the body inappropriately.
The term sexual harassment can be in any form. It is not only sexual favors made by the higher authority at the workplace for the employees. Some employees may also face economic loss due to the failure to fulfill sexual demands. The victims suffering from sexual harassment can apply in the Law Offices of Usmaan Sleemi to get justice.
What counts in sexual harassment?
These activities are considered a form of sexual harassment, such as:
- Entering the personal space without permission
- Unnecessary physical touch
- Use of bad language and comments for women
- Staring at women inappropriately
- Making sexual jokes and vulgar humor for women in the workplace
- Demanding sexual favors
- This kind of behavior in which the person feels low in the workplace
- Gender-based comments to harass a person
- Sending sexual pictures or images online
- Demanding physical intimacy
Important things related to sexual harassment to know
- The person suffering from sexual harassment decides whether the sexual favors are unwanted or not.
- What other people think of sexual behavior is not important in these cases.
- This type of sexual harassment can happen once or multiple times
- It is not necessary that the employee not objecting to sexual behavior is welcoming this kind of harassment.
- If the victim is mistreated by their behavior, it is also a sign of harassment.
Which type of sexual harassment is considered as a crime?
Activities of sexual harassment are crimes in the following cases:
- Stalking the person inappropriately
- Upskirting
- Indecent behavior
- Unwanted physical contact
- Carrying out sexual harassment on several occasions causes stress in a person.
Actions against sexual harassment
In most countries, the following actions are taken in cases of sexual harassment:
- Police will arrest the criminal on the spot
- The person committing the crimes will face trial
- Criminals will get a punishment such as imprisonment for a long time.
Actions not considered sexual harassment.
Some sexual activities at the workplace are not prohibited by the law, such as:
- Singular behavior
If the employer remarks once, it is not a form of sexual harassment, even if it is sexual. According to the law, making one sexual joke or remark is not a form of illegal conduct. Appreciating the employees’ outfits or advising them to dress better is not sexual harassment.
- Consensual behavior
Consensual behavior involves two or more parties. Certain workplaces prohibit coworkers from dating each other, but not all workplaces have this policy. When there is no such policy at the workplace, coworkers can date each other. A polite request from an employer is not sexual harassment, as per the law.
Does sexual harassment happen at the job or anywhere else?
Any form of sexual or non-sexual harassment can occur at any place. It can happen off-site, on the job, or during social events. Employees can also face sexual harassment outside an office building or a workplace. Employees facing any sexual abuse outside the workplace must inform their employees.
Conclusion
A person needs to distinguish between sexual and non-sexual harassment to take the right action. Not all actions are a form of sexual harassment. Similarly, not all actions are safe or non-sexual.
Employees facing any kind of sexual harassment at work or elsewhere must seek the advice of a lawyer. The lawyer will take the right action to bring the person justice.
