George Wassell

Recently we have heard about some high profile sexual harassment cases in the media. I thought this was a good time to remind all of us about sexual harassment in the workplace. This month's E-tip will provide information and guidelines about conducting ourselves is a professional manner whether we are in the workplace or with co-workers outside of the workplace.<br />
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Sexual Harassment Definitions<br />
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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Definition of Sexual Harassment<br />
Harassment on the basis of sex is a violation of (the law).<br />
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Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:<br />
1. submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicity a term or condition of an individual's employment.<br />
2. submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or<br />
3. such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.<br />
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Examples of Forms of Sexual Harassment<br />
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Verbal<br />
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* Comments of a sexual nature<br />
* Jokes of a sexual nature<br />
* Sexual innuendo<br />
* Pressure for dates<br />
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Physical<br />
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* Sexual touching<br />
* Gestures of a sexual nature<br />
* Flirting<br />
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Pictorial<br />
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* Graffiti of a sexual nature<br />
* Any representation on a surface depicting, or displaying objects or subjects expressed in a sexual nature; or any other material thing that exhibits an expression of a sexual nature.<br />
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For more information go to: http://www.eeoc.gov/types/sexual_harassment.html<br />
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Next week we'll review in detail the continuum of sexual harassment<br />
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