Know the Laws About Sexual Harassment!

Sexual harassment law is dictated on both a state and Federal level. Harassment law focuses in personal situations as well as work environments. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 contains a section specifically for sexual harassment and other discriminatory situations. These laws are to be followed by both employers and employees.

Under employment law, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects people against two forms of sexual harassment. The first form is known as Quid Pro Quo Harassment. This refers to when a person is subject to sexual harassment because their boss or superior has the ability to fire or blackball them from a particular industry. In these cases an employee will allow sexual harassment to take place so their life doesn't fall apart. It can be seen as a form of blackmail on the part of the employer. Harassment laws strictly prohibit employers from making employees feel this way.

The second form is known as harassment that makes the environment unfavorable. Many times this makes the victim jump trough hoops in order to feel comfortable at work. Unnecessary adversity of this kind is in violation of sexual harassment law. Many times the actions toward the victim become abusive and offensive, making it impossible for the employee to function.

The sexual harassment laws governing employment tend to evaluate each case individually, since sexual harassment cases are circumstantial. Whether the harassment occurs often, verbally, physically, or non-verbally are all taken into account. Additionally, harassment laws will work to ensure that the relationship between the victim and the harasser was platonic and other factors didn't bleed into the work environment. The laws also offer guidelines to prevent fraudulent claims against an employer or person. Additionally, harassment laws work very similarly on both state and local levels, with few minor guidelines changing depending on the circumstances.

Sexual harassment law works to protect people from feeling violated, whether it is in the workplace or in their personal lives. Situations in which harassment is occurring can be dangerous. This can happen after a victim reports the harassment and the harasser gets angry. In many states restraining orders and other regulations are suggested to keep these situations from occurring. Further, to avoid retaliation and future harassment, sexual harassment law is strict initially. This saves the victim time, money, and heartache, while moving them forward past an exhausting situation like sexual harassment.

NEXT: Sexual Harassment at the Workplace