Sexual Harassment

Presented by

Courtney Cantwell, Center for Professional Development

Kari Jordahl, Instructional Design Consultant

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IntroductionIn today’s workplace, there is no conduct that is

more destructive to morale, nor more debilitating to business effectiveness than sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment has no place in the work environment; it undermines the concept of a safe, respectable workplace. It destroys morale, undermines team effectiveness, and can cost the credit union a lot of money.

You need to know what constitutes sexual harassment, and how to prevent it from occurring at your credit union.

ObjectivesThe objectives for this course are to: • Define sexual harassment according to the Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC);• Identify the employer’s liability in cases of

sexual harassment;• Name four employee rights guaranteed by the

EEOC; and • Describe the steps managers can take to reduce

the potential liability of sexual harassment.

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What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law prohibits:

• Unwelcome sexual advances; • Requests for sexual favors; and • Other unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a

sexual nature.

What behavior constitutes sexual harassment? It is sexual harassment when submission to or

rejection of the conduct, explicit or implied:• Affects individual’s employment; or • Unreasonably interferes with an individual’s

work performance; or • Creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive

work environment.