Sexual harassment, a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, includes unwelcome advances and other sexual-related conduct. A significant number of workers report harassment, with 31% of females and 7% of males acknowledging such experiences, often leading to negative effects on both individuals and companies. Employers are encouraged to implement prevention and response strategies to create a safer workplace and reduce harassment claims.

1. Sexual Harassment In The WorkplaceSara Surber

2. What is Sexual Harassment?A form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.Examples include but are not limited to:Unwelcome sexual advancesRequests for sexual favorsVerbal or physical conduct of sexual nature

3. Facts About HarassmentAccording to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission nearly 12,696 claims of sexual harassment were filed in 2009.From that number 16 percent were filed by malesSources; US. Department of Labor, Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, Workplace Fairness, and the International Labor Organization

4. Why People Remain SilentConfusionUncertaintyLack of acceptanceDifficulty understandingIsolationDisbeliefPlacement of blameFear loss of job

5. StatisticsA telephone poll by Louis Harris and Associates on 782 U.S. workers revealed:31 % of female workers reported they had been harassed at work7 % of the male workers reported they had been harassed at work62% of targets took no action100 % of women were harassed by a man59% of men were harassed by a woman41 % of men were harassed by a man

6. StatisticsOf the women harassed:43 % were harassed by a supervisor27 % were harassed by an employee senior to them19 % were harassed by a coworker at their level8 % were harassed by a junior employee

7. Negative Effects on CompaniesDecreased work performanceIncreased absenteeism to avoid harassmentDefamation of reputationFinancial loss from lawsuits and legal fees

8. Negative Effects on IndividualsRetaliation from harasserBeing objectified and humiliatedDefamation of characterLoss of job and incomeLoss of career

9. AlternativesVictims of harassment can and should:Take back the power ( know your rights and use them)Report incidents Support other victims ( power in numbers)

10. AlternativesCompanies can and should:Implement sexual harassment prevention training programsEnforce a written sexual harassment policyHandle complaints professionally and promptly

11. Benefits to CompaniesSaving millions of dollars in lawsuitsProtecting overall reputationIncreasing work productivityMaintaining safe work environment

12. SummaryVictims who fail to take action encourage further harassment to themselves and others.Employers should take these claims seriously and enforce their own policies.If individuals and institutions address and handle these situations appropriately, I believe the number of sexual harassment claims filed each year would gradually decrease.