Can I unintentionally say something and be accused of sexual harassment?.
As rules within individual companies and overall civil rights laws have broadened and formed to today's society new detailed forms of sexual harassment have been established. By being unaware of your affects on people around you, your actions or words could be considered a form of sexual harassment. Despite a person's true intentions, if what they are doing makes absolutely anyone around them feel uncomfortable they can be accused. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission gives an overall description of sexual harassment. .
"Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment (1).".
Obviously people could make unintentional actions or use what they believe to be humor, but people must learn to be increasingly careful of this. Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances and whether intentional or non it can be a cause for intense penalties.
4. What is the difference between flirting and sexual harassment?.
"Briefly, sexual harassment is unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that makes someone feel uncomfortable or unwelcome in the workplace by focusing attention on their gender instead of on their professional qualifications (3)." People can be accused of sexual harassment whether intentional or not. Given that fact, we must be aware of the fine lines between flirting and sexual harassment. There are several ways to distinguish between these two actions. Some characteristics of flirting include that it feels good, is reciprocal, makes you feel attractive, is a compliment, you feel in control, there is still a sense of equality, it is wanted, legal, and gives you a positive self esteem (2).