New Jersey Sexual Harassment Attorneys

All employees should feel safe in the workplace. Men and women alike should feel like they can do their jobs without worrying about harassment, abuse, or unfair treatment. Unfortunately, the reality for many is that they deal with sexual harassment on a regular basis from a superior or co-worker, and it’s easy to blow it off as nothing if you aren’t aware of what behaviors constitute sexual harassment.

Examples of sexual harassment in the workplace include:

• Inappropriate, off-color jokes: Even the simplest off-color joke can be considered sexual harassment if it makes someone else uncomfortable, especially jokes about race, sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
• Unwelcome physical touch: Unwelcome touch doesn’t have to be sexual in nature in order to be considered sexual harassment. Anytime someone initiates touch on purpose, when it isn’t wanted, it may be harassment. 
• Derogatory comments: Women and men should be treated equally in the office, but sometimes a joke starts or a comment is made about the other sex. Any comment that is derogatory to an individual’s gender can constitute sexual harassment, as well as sexually explicit comments or advances.
• Exchanging sexual favors: In situations of sexual harassment, a superior or executive may use sexual favors as a way to give an employee a better chance at a promotion. Some may offer a certain job or raise if the person does what they ask (quid pro quo). Any time your boss asks you to perform a sexual favor in exchange for something, it’s sexual harassment.
• Derogatory pictures: Along with inappropriate jokes, derogatory comments, and unsolicited physical touch, derogatory or sexually explicit pictures in the workplace can also fall into the category of sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment is a problem that deserves serious treatment by everyone in the office. Those who feel they may have been harassed in the workplace may benefit from speaking to a New Jersey sexual harassment attorney at The Law Firm of Morgan Rooks, P.C. to understand their rights and options.

Who Can Commit Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?

According to the EEOC, sexual harassment can occur with supervisors, co-workers, clients, and customers. Any individual who makes you feel uncomfortable in the workplace may be harassing you. 

Both men and women experience harassment, and you can be harassed by an individual of the same sex. Sexual harassment may also be physical or non-physical in nature. Sometimes the employee may not even be the direct recipient of abuse. They may have witnessed and been adversely affected by this abuse, creating a hostile work environment.

The literal translation of quid pro quo is “something for something” or “this for that.”  Quid pro quo harassment is a form of sexual harassment that involves the exchange of a sexual favor for a workplace incentive. The incentive may be a promotion or raise, but it can also be threatening in nature. For example, the perpetrator can insinuate that someone will not be fired if they perform a sex act.

Any kind of transaction that requires a party to engage in or be subjected to sexual activity is quid pro quo harassment and is illegal. If someone at work makes an offer to you involving your participation in sex acts, immediately consult with a NJ sexual harassment attorney.

The literal translation of quid pro quo is “something for something” or “this for that.”  Quid pro quo harassment is a form of sexual harassment that involves the exchange of a sexual favor for a workplace incentive. The incentive may be a promotion or raise, but it can also be threatening in nature. For example, the perpetrator can insinuate that someone will not be fired if they perform a sex act.

Any kind of transaction that requires a party to engage in or be subjected to sexual activity is quid pro quo harassment and is illegal. If someone at work makes an offer to you involving your participation in sex acts, immediately consult with a NJ sexual harassment attorney.