Understandably, there is a lot of focus on ensuring that women are respected and protected in the workplace from sexual harassment. However, sexual harassment toward men is also a very real issue that is often not discussed. The following includes further information on the topic of sexual harassment toward men in the workplace.
What constitutes sexual harassment?
For many years, there wasn’t a clear definition of what sexual harassment was. This made it extremely difficult for men and women to prove that they were indeed harassed. Fortunately, when the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, was formed, the organization posed a clear definition of what constitutes sexual harassment. The EEOC states that sexual harassment is any unwanted sexual advancements, favors or requests.
Can men be sexually harassed?
The short answer is yes; men can be sexually harassed. There have been reports dating back to 2015 that indicate an increase in sexual harassment reports by men. These are claims that often involved unwanted sexual advancements, language or even threats of termination in some cases.
Why aren’t men reporting this issue?
The unfortunate reality of why men don’t report these illegal actions is that they fear they will be mocked by their co-workers and even their families. In some cases, employees might believe that men can’t be sexually harassed and thus fail to report it to the EEOC.
This can be a difficult issue to come to terms with, but it is important for everyone to understand that sexual harassment is real toward men. If you suspect that you are a victim of sexual harassment on the job, you may want to vet and hire an attorney as soon as possible to learn about your legal options.
