All employees are legally protected from sexual harassment in the workplace. However, for a worker to be able to protect themselves against such behavior, they must first have a good understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment. There are two main types of workplace sexual harassment. The first is sexual harassment through the creation of a hostile work environment. The second type of workplace sexual harassment is known as quid pro quo.
Many people are confused about what quid pro quo sexual harassment means. If you believe that you may have become victim to quid pro quo sexual harassment in the workplace, you should compare your situation with common examples. The following is a brief overview of quid pro quo harassment.
What does quid pro quo mean?
Quit pro quo is a Latin phrase that translates roughly to “something for something.” The phase essentially refers to a situation in which a person is asked to do something in return for another thing. In a quid pro quo sexual harassment case, a victim is asked to do something of a sexual or romantic nature in return for a favor that is associated with the perpetrator’s job role and authority.
What is an example of quid pro quo sexual harassment?
A typical example of quid pro quo sexual harassment would involve a boss and their employee. The boss may have been showing that they are sexually interested in their employee for some time, and may have suggested that they go out together on a date. In an instance where the employee declines and feels very uncomfortable about this suggestion, the boss may use their job-related power to influence the outcome of the interaction. For example, the boss may suggest that if the employee dates them, that they can benefit from a pay raise or a promotion.
This type of behavior is clearly highly inappropriate in a working environment. Additionally, many employees who find themselves in a similar situation become vulnerable to retaliation if they refuse the offer. This is why it is particularly important for those who think they have been affected by quid pro quo harassment to take action and assert their rights in New York.