SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Read the
WARNING! first.
Sexual harassment has been
a problem for ages. As the population increased and society became more
civilized, the level of acceptance and tolerance of this abuse has
decreased. In today’s civilized society, sexual harassment is neither
appropriate nor acceptable behavior.
Sexual harassment occurs in
many places, both on the job and off the job. Sexual harassment takes many
different forms and may range from inappropriate comments to physical
contact which is neither welcomed nor well-received.
Any "unwelcome sexual
advance" may turn into sexual harassment. A sexual advance is an overture,
whether by way of words or by physical contact, which has as its primary
object the subject of a relationship or experience between two persons
which involves sexual contact. An unwelcome sexual advance is an overture
which is neither wanted, appreciated, desired, welcomed or enjoyed.
Sexual harassment may stem
from one or more incidents of an unwelcome sexual advance. A single
incident may constitute sexual harassment, depending upon the nature of
the incident. Conduct not involving physical contact may also constitute
sexual harassment, again depending upon its nature and severity.
If you experience an
unwelcome sexual advance, take appropriate action to either stop the
incident from turning into sexual harassment or to properly document the
situation for future reference.
Four important rules are:
-
Make a written record of
every unwelcome sexual advance.
-
Make the written record
immediately after the incident occurs.
-
Tell the offender you do
not approve of the conduct.
-
If the advances do not
stop, report the conduct to the offender’s supervisor and ask the
supervisor to take action to stop the conduct from happening again.
Some people do not realize
that their conduct is offensive. In these situations, a polite message to
the offender may be all that is necessary to resolve the problem.
While some level of such
sexual aggression is normal human behavior, society places limits upon our
conduct. Because many unwelcome sexual advances occur without witnesses
present and without video cameras rolling, it is important to document
each and every incident immediately after it occurs.
Write down exactly what
happened. Indicate the date, time, place, and all other circumstances
surrounding the incident. If you cannot resolve the problem, consider the
following:
-
Should you see a lawyer?
-
If you see a lawyer,
bring your written record with you.
-
What can you do to avoid
the offender?
-
What relief do you want?
-
Does your problem justify
the expense of hiring a lawyer?
-
Is a lawyer’s
intervention likely to make the problem worse?
If you would like to pursue
a claim of sexual harassment involving an Arizona resident or company, or
if you live in Arizona and have been unfairly accused of sexual harassment
and want to be defended, call our office for a telephonic consultation*.
Call 928/445-3230 or contact us.
*There may be a
consultation fee, depending upon the nature of your matter. Call the
office for details. |
