Sexual Harassment

One late afternoon, Maria and Jim were finishing up a project they had to present to a potential client. Jim had higher rank then Maria but always tried to work with her whenever there was a project that had to be done. Maria was passionate about her work and loved that people such as Jim liked how she worked. That night after they were done with the project as they were closing up the office, Jim went over to Maria as she was putting on her coat he whispered in her ear "Would you like to become a head manager of this department?" Maria said, "Yes of course, why?" "Well there just so happens to be a position opening," said Jim. "Really? Wow where do I apply?"said Maria. "Well there just so happens to be a Hilton around the corner. How about we get a room and the job is yours." Maria felt so humiliated and shocked that Jim actually thought of her in that way instead of it really being for her professionalism.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments. It also applies to employment agencies and to labor organizations, as well as to the federal government. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.