11 types of sexual harassment at the workplace

Sexual harassment may take many forms. Usually, it's clear and very uncomfortable. Sometimes, though, someone who isn't able to control sexual impulses engages in subtle actions or phrases that build to a hostile work environment over time.

Sexual harassment in the workplace can categorize it in 4 main categories:

-         Verbal Harassment

Emotional and verbal harassment at work refers to demeaning comments that are led in a sexual manner, like whistling or to bully an individual, such as giving someone a derogatory name.

Small business owners should always look out for mental and verbal harassment as it risks litigation and may reduce employee performance.

A frequent form of sexual harassment is verbal. Examples of verbal workplace sexual harassment include:

• Offensive jokes of a sexual nature or sexist nature
• Repeated and unwelcome requests for sexual favors
• Repeated and unwelcome requests for dates
• Excessive and unwelcomed flirting
• Threats regarding adverse employment action if sexual favors are not granted

Unwelcome compliments of a sexual nature

You'll discover that the verbal behavior involves undesirable behavior that's repetitive and excessive. An isolated manic episode may not rise to the level of workplace sexual harassment. On the other hand, if one episode is egregious enough, like demanding sex to keep a job, one incident is sufficient for sexual harassment.

For verbal harassment to become a potential legal issue, it must create a hostile work environment for the employee and/or affect the employee's status with the company, such as a demotion in position or a reduction in benefits

-         Nonverbal Sexual Harassment

As you would likely expect, not all sexual harassment is verbal in nature. Sexual harassment may also occur through nonverbal communication. Gestures or non-verbal behaviors could also be considered sexual harassment where they're persistent, intense, and offensive.

Examples may include:

·       Sexual looks and lewd gestures, such as leering or ogling with suggestive overtones.

·       Touching oneself sexually or persistent and unwelcome flirting.

Nonverbal sexual harassment doesn't involve oral communication or physical contact.

-          Visual Sexual Harassment

It should come as no surprise that sexual harassment can derive from visual media.

Visual sexual harassment includes:

• Lewd or sexually suggestive pictures, posters, drawings, screensavers
• Lewd or sexually suggestive videos
• Offensive jokes of a sexual nature in written or electronic form, such as an email, instant messaging or text messaging
• Lewd, sexist or another type of written communication of a sexual nature
• Suggestive 'pinups'
• Cartoons
• Sexually-provocative dress
• Sharing sexually inappropriate images or videos, such as pornography, with co-workers
• Displaying inappropriate sexual images or posters in the workplace

-         Physical Sexual Harassment

The final kind of workplace sexual harassment we will talk about is physical sexual harassment.

Examples of physical sexual harassment include:

•         Unwelcome touching on any part of a person's body
•        Blocking a person’s physical movement
•         Brushing or bumping up against somebody else
•          Leaning over or standing too close

Note that physical contact isn't vital for physical sexual harassment - intrusion into your private space can be adequate. You should also notice that a voluntary touching can become undesirable. By way of instance, a handshake may begin voluntarily but become undesirable if it ceases to become a greeting and becomes an opportunistic touching.

Now look at the detail of the different type of sexual harassment at workplace

1- Foul Language at Work

Sexual harassment isn't only physical contact or unwelcome advances.

Examples of foul language at work:

• ·       Profanity and vulgar language
• ·       Euphemisms such as "boink" or "twist"
• ·       Demeaning phrases like "bitch" or "slut" or "MILF"
• ·       Crude references to personal anatomy
• ·       Description of sexual acts
• ·       Opinions about your own body
• ·       Sexual come-ons
• ·       Sexually explicit jokes

2- Sexual Advances at Work

Irrespective of how it began or how you originally reacted, unwanted advances that persist or escalate can result in a hostile working environment. Soon you want to prevent all interaction with the individual and possibly even dread coming to work.

• The harasser may be a co-worker, a manager or executive, or just a client or client.
• ·       Stress to go on dates or "hang out" out of work
• ·       A routine of come-ons and flirting
• ·       Opinions on your looks or your own body
• ·       Sexually suggestive language
• ·       Flowers, cards, and gifts
• ·       Promises of job perks
• ·       Fondling, hugging or another inappropriate touching
• ·       Advances Outside the office

3- Obscene Gestures In The Workplace

Non-verbal gestures may constitute sexual harassment when the behavior is sexual in nature and makes you uneasy, even if the gestures aren't specifically aimed at you.

Cases of sexual gestures which may cross the line into harassment and a hostile work environment:

• ·       Hip thrusts and other sexually suggestive actions
• ·       Hand gestures which mimic sex acts
• ·       Obscene gestures with the tongue or lips
• ·       Simulating groping or touching
• ·       Use of the middle finger in a threatening or sensual manner
• ·       Body language used to corner, trap or sabotage
• ·       Leering, ogling and suggestive facial expressions

4- Online Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Digital or online harassment may include derogatory phrases and sensual language, sexual come-ons, spreading lies or nasty remarks about you, sending nude or pornographic images for you, posting embarrassing photographs of you online, stalking behavior, or threats of violence:

• ·       Postings on Facebook or other social media websites
• ·       Postings in Internet chat rooms
• ·       Texting of harassing messages to your phone
• ·       "Sexting" of obscene pictures
• ·       Harassment through your personal or work email accounts

5- Pornography on Computer Screen at Work

Computer pornography in any form (videos, photographs, animations, graphics text) could be sexual harassment:

• ·       Emailed pictures or email attachments
• ·       "Sexting" of nude or pornographic pictures to your Mobile Phone
• ·       Pornography exhibited on a co-worker's computer or screensaver
• ·       Verbal descriptions of pornographic content
• ·       Two or more co-workers gathered around a computer watching porn

6- Refusing Sexual Advances at Work

Among the most troubling aspects of the workplace, sexual harassment is fear of what is going to happen if you resist. Some people will not take no for an answer. Refusing the unwelcome advances of a supervisor, co-worker, vendor or client may evoke numerous responses. The individual might become even more competitive, such as sexual assault.

• ·       Cases of Refusing Sexual Advances in the Workplace
• ·       Continued sexual harassment
• ·       Stalking, harassment, violence or threats
• ·       Hostile working environment
• ·       Bad-mouthing and damage to your reputation
• ·       Poor performance reviews or adverse employment references
• ·       Termination, move or adverse employment action against you

7- Sexual Assault in the Workplace

Any of these behaviors may constitute sexual assault in an employment setting:

• ·       Kissing you against your will
• ·       Lifting your skirt or shirt or unbuttoning your blouse
• ·       Groping your buttocks or buttocks
• ·       Placing hands down the front or back of your trousers
• ·       Pressing against you or pulling you onto their lap
• ·       Maintaining your arms or blocking your escape
• ·       Disrobing or vulnerability by the harasser
• ·       Forcing or coercing you to do or see some sex act

8- Sexual Jokes at the Workplace

Sexual jokes that may be considered harassment may include:

• ·       Graphic descriptions of sex acts
• ·       Jokes containing sexual speech and profanity
• ·       Sexual innuendo aimed at you
• ·       Sex jokes told loudly for all to listen to
• ·       Sexual jokes or animations emailed to your work computer

9- Sexual Notes, Emails or Texts at Work

This may include communications with sexual come-ons, stalking behavior, pornographic pictures, sexual jokes or explicit speech:

• ·       Email or instant messaging (IM)
• ·       Telephone calls and voicemail messages
• ·       Text messages to your phone or Blackberry
• ·       "Sexting" of nude or pornographic images
• ·       Post-it notes or computer printouts with sexual messages
• ·       Other work-related communications
• ·       Postings on Facebook and social media

 

 

10- Sexual Pictures from the Workplace

Examples of Sexual Pictures from the Workplace

• ·       Centerfolds or nude photos
• ·       "Cheesecake" calendars or posters
• ·       Pornographic depictions (photographs or animations)
• ·       Sexual pictures delivered to your work computer or telephone
• ·       Other offensive images of a sexual nature

11- Invasion of Privacy at Work

Kinds of activities that are considered sexual harassment throughout the invasion of privacy include:

• ·       Physically invading your personal space, like in your own workstation or desk
• ·       Recording you in the restroom, dressing room or other private places
• ·       Taking your image without your knowledge and releasing it on the Internet through social media
• ·       Threatening to release confidential information or video/photos of a sexual relationship
• ·       Blackmailing one to run sexual acts or participate in a sexual relationship

·       Sexual harassment results in a hostile work environment and frequently turn into retaliation if the victim reports it.

If you believe you have been a sexually harassed in the workplace, you should call an experienced sexual harassment lawyer for a free consultation.