Employers may be held strictly liable for sexual and other forms of harassment carried out by its employees on other employees, so it is imperative that any employer take steps to prevent such behavior.
What is sexual harassment?
Harassment in the workplace typically can happen in two ways:
- A supervisor demands sexual favors from an employee in return for extending benefits or for not taking adverse action. This is called quid pro quo or “this for that” harassment.
- A supervisor takes actions or creates conditions for an employee that make the job intolerable. This is called a hostile work environment and can occur in connection with sexual harassment or any of the other forms of unlawful discrimination.