Stop Sexual Harassment

Employees are protected under both state and federal law against workplace sexual harassment. Federal law remedies for workplace discrimination are based upon Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which applies to employers with fifteen or more employees. Similar state anti-discrimination laws usually protect people who work for smaller employers. Under federal law, same-sex sexual harassment can support a claim against an employer. State laws may vary on the issue of same-sex harassment.

 There are two general categories of sexual harassment in the workplace:

• Quid Pro Quo Harassment - An employee is required to tolerate sexual harassment in order to obtain or keep a job, job benefit, raise, or promotion.

• Hostile Work Environment Harassment - Harassment at work unreasonably interferes with or alters the employee’s work performance, or creates a hostile, abusive or offensive work environment. In determining if a workplace environment is “hostile”,