Three Examples Of Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment

One of the kinds of sexual harassment that can occur in the workplace is "quid pro quo" harassment. This Latin phrase roughly means that something is being exchanged for something else, and it applies to many areas of life. For example, you might bake your neighbor a pie because you borrowed his or her lawnmower. Unfortunately, this "something for something" scenario can take place in the context of sexual harassment, which should prompt you to hire an attorney and pursue legal action if you're being harassed. Here are three scenarios that fall under the quid pro quo header.

Sex For Hiring

If you've recently been hired by the company you work for, your manager may begin to make some insinuations that you owe him or her something. In other words, the boss may think that because he or she did you a favor by employing you, you owe him or her a favor that is sexual. This is a classic type of quid pro quo sexual harassment, and it's never justified. What you owe your boss is to work hard in the execution of your job description, and nothing more.

Hiring For Sex

The opposite scenario can also take place. For example, perhaps you've recently hired someone, and he or she soon begins to make sexual advances toward you — maybe under the guise of "thanking" you for hiring him or her by engaging in a sexual act with you. It's important to remember that sexual harassment doesn't have to come from a position of power. While many people view harassment as occurring when a manager is harassing an employee, the reality is that an employee can also sexually harass someone who is above him or her at the company.

Sex As Blackmail

Another type of quid pro quo sexual harassment is also possible to define within the context of blackmail. This scenario could occur in a variety of ways. For example, a colleague could learn that you cut corners on a project or perhaps that you lied on your job application but still got hired. He or she could inform you that he or she knows your secret and imply that your secret will stay safe — as long as you consider giving him or her a sexual favor.

If you're dealing with any of these types of harassment, or any other type of quid pro quo scenario that makes you feel uncomfortable, speak to a sexual harassment attorney.