Business Ethics

Chapter 11.2
Sexual Harassment
Introduction

 Improper sexual conduct in the workplace which

includes lewd and suggestive comments,
touching and fondling, persistent attention and
request for sexual favours – has long been a
problem for women and occasionally for men
 Often such sexual harassment has been
regarded by employers as a personal matter
beyond their control or as an unavoidable part of
male-female relations
Introduction

 Increased attention to the problem and

developments in the law have made
employers aware of their responsibilities
and women of their rights
What is Sexual Harassment?
 Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
favours, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual
nature constitute sexual harassment when
 Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly
a term or condition of an individual’s employment
 Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is
used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such
individual or
 Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably
interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an
intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment
Discrimination & Sexual
Harassment
 There are laws that protect women against many forms
of discrimination
 For example in the UK and USA – Equal Pay Act –
forbids different salary for the same work unless valid
reason
 However, discrimination is allowed if there is a bona fide
occupational qualification e.g. hiring of guards in a male
prison
 There are situations where even though there is no
BFOQ but the stated qualifications exclude virtually all
women e.g. test for police officers and fire fighters –
require considerable strength and endurance
What is Sexual Harassment?

 This definition makes a distinction

between 2 kinds of harassment
 Quid pro quo – superior uses his power to grant
or deny employment benefits to exact sexual
favours from a subordinate
 Hostile working environment – the sexual nature
of the conduct of co-workers and others causes a
woman/man to be very uncomfortable
Discrimination

 Pregnancy

 Wages
Q&A