The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports that
sexual harassment claims continue to be a serious issue, with 7,256
new charges filed in FY 2013. Although that number has decreased in
recent years, the awards in sexual harassment lawsuits continue to
climb.
Employers simply cannot afford to ignore the threat of sexual
harassment. If employers fail to take steps to minimize liability
from sexual harassment complaints in the current litigious climate,
they may find themselves writing some very large checks.
Forms of Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment comes in several forms. The most well-known
type of sexual harassment is quid pro quo harassment. The
traditional example is "sleep with me and you get the job or
the promotion." This claim requires the action of a
supervisor. While most supervisors know that this behavior is
improper, these claims continue to arise.
