Sexual Harrasment in the Workplace

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Antonio Williams

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the

Civil Rights Act of 1964. Sexual harassment is unwanted and unwelcome behavior, or attention, of a sexual nature that interferes with your life and your ability to function at work, home, or school.  Sexual advances, forced sexual activity, statements about sexual orientation or sexuality, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature all constitute sexual harassment.  The behavior may be direct or implied.  Sexual harassment can affect an individual's work or school performance, and can create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

  In October 2007, Anucha Browne Sanders, a former high level marketing executive for the New York Knicks basketball team's owner, Madison Square Garden, L.P. ('MSG'), sued the Knick's Coach Isaiah Thomas, MSG and CEO James Dolan for sexual harassment, retaliatory termination from her job, and related claims. Sanders worked her way to a top level executive position. It was at her workplace where she received unwanted advances from Isaiah Thomas. When she complained the first time, Thomas retaliated by not allowing his team to perform any community service events that were organized by Ms. Sanders. When she confronted him, she was called demeaning names. After several complaints, he stopped calling her derogatory names and started to make unwanted sexual advances at her. When she went to her supervisor to complain about the advances, she was terminated.

Anucha Browne Sanders filed charges on July 2006. A federal jury that Knicks’ coach Isaiah Thomas had sexually harassed Browne Sanders, subjecting her to unwanted advances and a barrage of verbal insults, but also said he does not have to pay punitive damages. The jury found that Madison Square Garden committed harassment against the woman, and decided that she was entitled to punitive...