10/17/2003
Overview: Title VII prohibits sex discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace.
Application: Title VII applies to business with 15 or more employees. State and local laws may cover all businesses.
Examples of Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment covers behavior that creates a hostile work environment. Examples are:
- unwelcome sexual advances;
- requests for sexual favors;
- verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature;
- sexually suggestive or offensive personal references about an individual.
Note:
- the victim or harasser may be male or female;
- the victim does not have to be of the opposite sex;
- the harasser can be the victim's supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor of another area, a co-worker, or a non-employee;
- the victim does not have to be the person harassed but can be anyone affected by the offensive conduct;
- unlawful sexual harassment may occur without economic injury to or discharge of the victim.
Notice: The notice, Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law should be posted where employees can readily see it. A copy of this notice is available in the NFIB Legal Foundation's new Federal Employee Handbook for Independent Business.
Additional Information: For more information, please refer to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) Web site at http://www.eeoc.gov or call 800.669.4000 to locate an EEOC field office in your area.
