Sexual harassment and sexual assault are very serious issues happening today in the workplace. Women or men have suffered from unsolicited sexual behaviors that are typically provoked by someone “higher” in position. “Sexual harassment especially has been a fixture in the workplace since women began to work outside their homes” (Fitzgerald, 1993). It is solely the responsibility of the employer to ensure that all employees within are aware and are very cautions of laws, misconduct, and liabilities. Employers must enforce the Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and further extend those laws and guidelines to their employees. It is also the job of any members within the board or a committee to take action and investigate when sexual harassment
Employers are just as guilty as their employees when dealing with sexual harassment. Employers equally must be prosecuted. One question if there are policies and or programs in force that can prevent sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible to enforce the workplace laws. One of the outlined laws states, “It is unlawful to harass a person that could be an applicant, employee, or student because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include sexual harassment or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature” (Lockwood, 2017). Employers are required and responsible to take action when complaints are being filed and take reasonable care to prevent sexual harassment. Failure to do so can carry significant financial implications if the court rules that sexual harassment occurred. Any financial settlement to the plaintiff, the employer may be required to pay the court fees that typically cost more than the settlement it self. The reasoning behind it is to motivate employers and mangers to establish a zero tolerance policy. Managers or board members should take each complaint seriously and set good examples for other employees. Since employers are at liability in cases like this, they must act immediately and investigate complaints. Employers cannot be held liable for behavior they are unaware of. However if they are notified they must take action immediately and warn the person and take legal steps. The employer is also required to keep a written record of complaints and the action they took to resolve such