Whether you believe you have been the victim of workplace abuse or not, you should learn what your rights are. Here are some helpful tips to help you understand what you should do in the unfortunate event that something like this happens to you.
Quid pro quo harassment
Often viewed as a version of abuse, this type of abuse is illegal in the workplace. This type of harassment is a form of discrimination that occurs when an employer or supervisor asks for sexual favors in exchange for a job benefit or promotion.
In order to file a serious harassment claim, the victim must meet certain legal requirements. This includes having experienced the sexual request, and having suffered an employment action as a result of the request.
Those who are a victim of this type of abuse may be eligible for reinstatement and front pay. There are some education courses that can teach you how to recognize behavior before it gets to this point, however. They may also be awarded compensatory damages for emotional distress and reputational harm.
Unlike other forms of bullying, this type of harassment is not limited to a single employee. It can affect both men and women. In addition to a sexual request, the harassment can also involve a threat of termination for non-sexual behavior.
Whether the person seeking the sexual favor is the victim or not, this type of is illegal. It can be very abusive and can be harmful to companies.
Same-sex harassment
Whether you’re a man or a woman, it’s possible to experience same-sex problems or issues at work. Whether it’s an obscene gesture, a sexually explicit comment, or a sexually abusive boss, your rights are protected.
If you’re a victim of same-sex harassment, you may be able to recover damages from your harasser. In addition to punitive damages, you may be awarded pain and suffering damages. If you’re an employee, you may be entitled to back pay, reinstatement, front pay, and other compensation.
You also have the right to file a claim with the EEOC, otherwise known as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which is the public agency that’s charged with the enforcement of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which you can read here.
A federal jury found Boh Brothers Construction liable for a sex-based hostile work environment. The company was accused of making derogatory comments, taunting gestures, and failing to take any action against gay slurs. The jury ordered the company to pay a $100,000 settlement.
The Supreme Court hasn’t ruled on whether it’s legal to engage in same-sex harassment at work. However, a unanimous three-judge panel of the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed a district court’s grant of summary judgment in a case involving the same-sex-based hostile work environment.
Sexist comments and actions
Several studies have shown that sexist comments and actions in the workplace are not only damaging to women but to men, too. These sexist comments and actions are often not obvious, but if they are tolerated, they can result in significant professional and personal damage to both sexes.
In many cases, sexist comments and actions in the workplace may be a product of cultural norms and stereotypes. In other cases, they are a result of bad management styles. If your organization does not take steps to address these issues, they can become a legal liability for your company.
The Utah Women & Leadership Project (https://www.usu.edu/uwlp/) conducted a study on women’s reactions to sexist comments. They found that women responded emotionally and indirectly. They felt ashamed, embarrassed, and angry. They also felt that they wished someone had stood up for them.
The study examined women’s reactions to a variety of sexist comments. They found that 40% of women replied directly to the sexist comment, while 38.2% of women did not respond at all. The replies to sexist comments included information, humor, and a rebuttal.
Whether an employer is responsible
Whether an employer is responsible for workplace abuse is a complicated fact-sensitive inquiry. It depends on several factors, including the type of harassment and who did the harassment. When an employee makes a complaint about abuse, an employer may be liable if they knew or reasonably should have known about the harassment.
The employer should investigate the claim and take appropriate action. This may include disciplinary actions, hiring another employee, or lying off the harasser. The employer should also document the complaint and the steps it took to resolve it.
An affirmative defense called the Ellet/Forager doctrine protects employers from liability for workplace abuse. The employer must have a policy against harassment and exercise reasonable care to prevent it. If the employer fails to exercise the policy, the employee can sue the employer personally.
Depending on the nature of the abuse, an employer may be liable for compensatory damages, emotional distress, or punitive damages. These damages can be used to pay for medical treatment, hospital bills, lost wages, or other expenses.
