The main civil rights act dealing with employment discrimination is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. It prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Sexual harassment is a type of sex discrimination which is a violation of Title VII. Employers need to have written policies forbidding sexual harassment. Offenses that would constitute sexual harassment include:
" Demands for sexual favors in exchange for job benefits (quid pro quo);
" A job "environment" that involved sexual suggestions;
" Hostile conduct toward an employee who refused to provide sexual favors;
" Verbal or physical suggestions with a sexual overtone.
A supervisor, as well as the employer, can be held liable for failing to take action regarding complaints of sexual harassment by one employee toward another. The Sexual Harassment IQ Test will help you determine how well your employee's understand sexual harassment law. It also may help you prove to the court, if you are sued, that you exercised reasonable care to prevent or promptly correct any harassing behavior.
