The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) states that sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. While these parameters are helpful, it can be difficult when you’re in such a situation to discern exactly what qualifies as sexual harassment.

Some examples include if someone:

• Stands too close and might touch you in an unwanted way.
• Keeps looking at or commenting on your body in a way that makes you uncomfortable. A specific example might be someone that says “that dress really shows off your curves” rather than “that’s a nice dress.”
• Asks you about your personal life, including your romantic preferences or sexual experiences.
• Insists on talking about their own sexual experiences.
• Keeps trying to get you to meet alone outside of work.
• Makes generally degrading comments about members of your gender.

For the harassment to be considered unlawful, it has to be “so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted).” Quoted from the EEOC website.

If you or someone you know is experiencing actions like this, please review your company policy on reporting practices, seek guidance from HR, or reach out to an employment law attorney to allow them to guide you through your recourse options.

Henn Haworth Cummings + Page Law has many years of experience with harassment cases. You may reach out to their office at 317-885-0041 or email Sharon.Miles@hhcfirm.com for a no charge assessment of your case or situation.