In short, sexual harassment is any unwelcome
sexual activity by a co-worker or supervisor that creates a hostile work
environment. Employers are obligated to vigorously enforce sexual harassment
laws. Employees have every right to expect and demand the same type of work
place conduct that their employers would want for their own mothers and
daughters. For a detailed and thoughtful review of the law,
click here.
Claims of sexual harassment can also be brought against schools on
behalf of students who have been sexually harassed if the student can prove the
school reacted to complaints with "deliberate indifference." For a
comprehensive treatment of sexual harassment in a school setting,
click
here.
While many variations exist on the same essential theme, EEOC's
definition is likely to be given great weight by courts, since it is the
investigating agency set up by Congress to enforce federal law against sexual
harassment. (For EEOC's definition,
click
here).