BUSINESS ETHICS

ETHICAL ISSUES IN HRM

Sexual Harassment at workplace

 Contents

• What is sexual harassment?

• Types of harassment
• Harassment situations
• Conclusion
 What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment intimidation, bullying or

coercion of sexual nature, or the unwelcome or
inappropriate promise of rewards for sexual
favors. It is a serious criminal offence, which can
destroy human dignity and freedom. Sexual
harassment shall include such unwelcome
sexually determined behavior by any person
either individually or in association with other
persons or by any person in authority whether
directly or by implication.
 Explanation
• Where any comment, act or conduct is committed
against any person and such person has a reasonable
apprehension that :
– it can be humiliating and may constitute a health and safety
problem, or
– it is discriminatory, as for instance, when the woman has
reasonable grounds to believe that her objection would
disadvantage her in connection with her employment or study
including recruitment or promotion or advancement or when it
creates a hostile environment, or
– it would result in adverse consequences if she does not consent
to the conduct or raisers any objection, it shall be deemed to
sexual harassment.
 Types of sexual harassment
• One of the gang
It occurs when group of men or women embarrasses
other with lewd comments, physical evaluations, or
other unwanted sexual attention. This is done in order
to impress others.

• Unintentional
Acts or comments of sexual nature, not
intended to harass, can constitute
sexual harassment if another person
feels uncomfortable with that
subject.
• Power Player
These harassers insist for sexual favors in exchange of
benefits.
e.g. getting or keeping a job, favorable grades,
recommendations, promotion, etc.

• Mother/father figure
These harassers will create mentor-like relationships
with their targets, all the while masking their sexual
intentions with pretenses towards personal,
professional or academic attention.

• Serial harasser
These harassers carefully build up an image so that
people find it hard to believe they would do anyone any
harm
• Groper
Whenever the opportunity presents itself, these harassers’
eyes and hands begin to wander, engaging in unwanted
physical contact that may start innocuous but lead to
worst.

• Opportunist
Opportunist use physical settings and circumstances, or
infrequently occurring opportunities to mask
premeditated or unintentional sexual
behavior towards targets.
• Bully
The bully uses sexual harassment to put the
victim in his or her “proper place”.

• Confidante
Harassers of this type approach subordinates,
sharing about their life
experiences and difficulties,
sharing stories to win
admiration and sympathy.
Soon this relationship move to an
intimate domain.
• Situational harasser
Harassing behavior begins when the perpetrator
endures a traumatic situation, or begins to
experience stressful life situations. And the
harassment stops as the pressures are removed.

• Pest
Wont take ‘no’ for any answer even
after persistent rejections.

• Great gallant
It includes verbal harassment including
excessive compliments that focus on
appearance and gender.
• Intellectual seducer
The harasser uses its knowledge and skills as an avenue to
gain access to others.

• Incompetent
These are socially inept individuals who desire the attention
of their targets who do not reciprocate these feelings.

• Stalking
The persistent watching, following,
contacting or observing of an individual
sometimes motivated by what the stalke
believes to be love, or by sexual obsession,
or by anger and hostility.
 Harassment situations
Harassment situations occur in a variety of circumstances, it is not
necessary that the harasser is in a position of power or authority over
the victim. Forms of harassment relationship include:-
 Harasser can be anyone such as client, co-worker, a teacher,
professor, a friend, student or a stranger.

 The victim does not have to be the person directly harassed but can be
anyone who finds the behavior offensive and is affected by it.

 While adverse effects on the victim are common, this does not have to
be he case for the behavior to be unlawful.

 The victim can be any gender. The harasser can be any gender.
 The harasser does not have to be the opposite sex.

 The harasser may be completely unaware that his or her behavior is

offensive or constitutes sexual harassment or may be completely
unaware that his or her actions could be unlawful.
 Conclusion
• Sexual harassment is a serious criminal offence, which can destroy
human dignity and freedom. In an effort to promote the well being of
all women employees at the work place the following code of
conduct has been prescribed:
• It shall be the duty of the employer to prevent or deter the
commission of any act of sexual harassment at the workplace.
• Sexual harassment shall include such unwelcome sexually
determined behavior by any person either individually or in
association with other persons or by any person in authority whether
directly or by implication.

             A Bill to provide for the prevention of sexual harassment of

women employees at their work places by their employers, superiors,
colleagues or by any one connected with the work place and matters
connected therewith.
This Act may be called the Sexual Harassment of Women at their Work
Place (Prevention) Act,2000 .
Thank You

Priyanka Kubde.