Harassment

There is a great deal of confusion regarding what actually constitutes sexual harassment. To make it more confusing, there are many false myths surrounding sexual harassment, including:

• Only a woman can be sexually harassed;
• Women cannot sexually harass other women and men cannot sexually harass other men;
• Sexual harassment can only occur in the workplace; and
• Only supervisors or those in authority positions can be a harasser.

Under federal law, sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission describes sexual harassment as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature” when “submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.”

The Labor and Employment attorneys of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP help employers make the right decisions.  An effective harassment policy and well-trained supervisors are often the best prevention of and defense to harassment claims.  Taft attorneys guide employers through steps to become a harassment-free workplace, thus minimizing costly harassment claims.  This includes drafting harassment policies and assisting employers in their implementation. 

Taft attorneys are experienced in investigating and defending such claims when they arise.