Sexual harassment can be simply described in three words and that is “unwelcome sexual conduct”. Sexual harassment is a highly serious offense and the offensive list of activities never ceases to exhaust under it. Sexual harassment or any type of harassment is highly seen in work culture, where more often than not the most number of victims turn out to be women. Even though there are several policies in place, still things are not better for victims. Victims often do not reveal sexual harassment episodes due to lack of protection and support, and fear of retaliation. That’s why taking legal action and seeking assistance from the best sexual harassment lawyer New York City is oftentimes the best option to make every victim feel secured and safe against their abusers.
The following is a list of some of the most common activities that can help you identify sexual harassment at work.
Unwelcome touching
This is one of the most common examples of sexual harassment at the workplace or anywhere else. Generally, any unwelcome physical activity that causes discomfort to another person will fall under the category of sexual harassment. There are so many real-life instances of workplace harassment where some staff would engage in unnecessary touching that causes a sense of insecurity and discomfort. In such a situation, one should always take action there and then.
Staring
Staring is one of the creepiest behaviors that make the person on the receiving end uncomfortable. Staring is also a type of sexual harassment and it is not only a problem in the workplace but is found everywhere, from the transport you use to the neighbor in your locality. In workplaces, the victim should complain to the higher-ups about the issue or deal with it directly.
Sending sexually explicit pictures or posters
Sending sexually explicit pictures or posters to a friend or receiving one in good spirits might be considered okay or harmless in some groups but receiving them or sending them to a person whom you do not know on a personal level is highly offensive. Such actions might lead the perpetrator to jail on the complaint of the victim or a firing from the job in the workplace.
The intrusion of privacy or body
Another common instance of workplace sexual harassment is the intrusion of other person’s privacy or their body. Some people tend to ask unwelcoming questions or curiosity about other person’s personal life, asking questions about their anatomy or commenting on their body also comes under the list of activities that fall under sexual harassment. In such situations, the victim can feel uneasy and uncomfortable in the workplace environment. In addition to this, the victim can file a legal complaint.
Sexually explicit physical contact
Another type of workplace sexual harassment is sexually explicit physical contact such as forcibly brushing body with another person, or grabbing or fondling another person, etc. Such crude behavior is seen as highly offensive and almost all the workplaces provide protection of some kind to the victims on the paper. Nevertheless, one can always approach legal help.
The list of activities that fall under sexual harassment doesn’t stop here. However, any sexual activities that are unwelcome and are uncomfortable for the person on the receiving end can identify it is sexual harassment.