Types of Sexual Harassment

There are two types of sexual harassment that may occur at work: quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Quid pro quo, which translates to mean “this for that” in Latin, occurs when an employer offers an employee some sort of job benefit in exchange for a sexual act. For example, if an employer tells you in order to keep your job or receive a promotion, you must submit to his sexual advances, this is quid pro quo harassment.

Sexual harassment is also illegal when it creates a hostile work environment. This occurs when the sexually harassing behaviors have become so aggressive or widespread that an employee is unable to perform the duties of his or her job.

Anyone within the organization can file a hostile work environment case, whether he or she is directly or indirectly a victim. For example, an employee who is constantly being harassed by her supervisor to the point where she cannot perform her job duties is a direct victim and can file a hostile work environment claim. However, an employee who frequently witnesses another employee being sexually harassed can also file a claim, even though she has never been directly harassed.

In order to file a hostile work environment claim, the behavior must occur repeatedly. Infrequent behavior, even if it is offensive, inappropriate and sexual in nature, is not legally considered sexual harassment.