I have heard there are two types of sexual harassment. What are they?
The first type is Quid Pro Quo. This means that a person in a position of power over another offers to trade a tangible employment action or benefit (such as promotion) for a sexual favor. Only someone who has the power to control the victim’s job destiny can commit this type of sexual harassment. The second type is hostile work environment. In this instance, the environment is created by obvious sexually oriented activity by employees and supervisors. Sexual harassment is rarely found as the result of a single incident or event. The victim as well as the harasser may be a woman or a man. The victim does not have to be of the opposite sex. I have first-hand knowledge of a co-worker who is being harassed by his supervisor. He is afraid and embarrassed to come forward and report the harassment. Since I am in the immediate work area, can I report the harassment? Yes, the victim does not have to be the person harassed, but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct.
