Dbq Sexual Harassment

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According to the dictionary, sexual harassment is the making of unwanted and offensive sexual advances or of sexually offensive remarks or acts, especially by one in a superior or supervisory position or when acquiescence to such behavior is a condition of continued employment, promotion, or satisfactory evaluation, however the real-world definition is a bit more nuanced than that. Sexual harassment can have more to do with the intentions, instead of the actions. A seemingly harmless act such as sitting close to someone and asking personal questions may not be sexual in and of itself, if that person's intentions are ultimately sexual in nature that changes things. Besides human rights interests, there are also cost factors involved in keeping…show more content…
Being sexually harassed can make a lot of people feel powerless, but there laws in place protecting our right to a safe, non-hostile workplace. In the case of the hostile workplace, one might not be directly harassed, but if the language and attitudes of one's coworkers makes one feel marginalized, threatened, or objectified, it is important that one say something, if not directly to the offending party, then to a supervisor. In more direct cases, it is important that one report to their immediate supervisor about the incident. Many companies have specific procedures for such incidents, and those procedures are best followed to the letter. Document all complaints. If the employer fails to address the situation to one's satisfaction, one may take the case further, to one's state civil rights enforcement agency or to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The claim will be investigated, and contingent on available evidence, that agency will file suit against the offending company or issue a right to sue letter, allowing one to bring civil lawsuit to the offending…show more content…
The top management of the company were stakeholders in the company, making them virtually irreproachable. Employees who worked directly for the top management such as assistants, secretaries, and receptionists tended to be almost exclusively younger attractive women. The company was a service related industry with many branch offices, so the bulk of the company resided at locations other than the main office where she worked. She then detailed her work environment including the interaction with co-workers, both peer and superiors. When she began working for the company everybody was nice and supportive of her, but she noticed a high employee turnover amongst those working for top management. She didn't get why her peers would want to leave, they worked in a nice office, the pay was great, the benefits were great, it did not add up. She then explained, as her superiors felt more comfortable with her the mood around the office changed. The topics of conversation seemed to contain more and more sexual overtones, and repeatedly noticed her direct superior attempting to look down her shirt when she would lean over. She felt as if part of her job was to amuse her bosses, and came to see why people were regularly leaving

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