While most New Jersey employees understand that they do not have to submit to sexual harassment in the workplace, they are less confident in their ability to identify an act of sexual harassment. Some cases of sexual harassment may be straightforward, such as an employer or potential employer that adds inappropriate conditions to receiving job-related benefits or an employment relationship based on providing sexual favors. However, the protection against sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination covers a much broader scope of behavior and statements.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as state laws and agencies including the Department of Law & Public Safety, through its Division on Civil Rights, protect employees from sexual harassment. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines sexual harassment as any demand or request for sexual favors, offensive comment about one’s gender, unwelcome sexual advances, or physical or verbal harassment of a sexual nature (e.g., sexual innuendo).
The U.S. Supreme Court has distinguished two distinct types of sexual or gender-based claims that may be the basis for a sexual harassment lawsuit – quid pro quo and hostile work environment.
Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment. This type of sexual harassment refers to the most obvious behavior, where hiring, continued employment or benefits of employment (i.e., raises, promotions and job assignments) are predicated on the condition the employee acquiesces to sexual advances. This form of sexual harassment effectively amounts to blackmail because an employee’s position or benefits of employment are conditioned on providing sexual gratification to the employer, manager or supervisory personnel.
Hostile Work Environment. Claims of sexual harassment based on a hostile work environment cover a far broader range of conduct than quid pro quo sexual harassment lawsuits. These types of claims are based on offensive sexual or gender-based comments or actions. Examples of the type of conduct that may create a hostile work environment include:
While a hostile work environment claim against one employer may be based on actions and words by a supervisor, co-worker or even customer, the basis for the claim must be more than an isolated off-hand sexual joke or teasing comment. The behavior and/or comments that create a hostile work environment must be pervasive and extreme. If you are subjected to sexual harassment, the Bergen County sexual harassment attorneys at Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. provide zealous advocacy for the rights of employees who face sex and gender discrimination.