Sexual Harassment Ethics, Laws, and Prevention

Sexual Harassment: Ethics, Laws, and Prevention

Laura Stevens

BUS 670: Legal Environment

Leah Westerman

June 22, 2015

Sexual Harassment: Ethics, Laws, and Prevention

Sexual Harassment in the workplace continues to be a widespread ethical and legal issue within businesses in the United States and across the globe. Sexual harassment is not limited to a certain type of work environment, but it has the potential to exist anywhere, at any time, and to anyone. Sexual harassment is defined as harassment in a workplace or social situation involving unwanted sexual advances or other obscene remarks. While sexual harassment is typically directed at women, it is not limited to such and can also just as easily be inflicted on males. There are two specific types of sexual harassment which include, quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Two ethical theories that tie closely to that of sexual harassment are ethical absolutism and justice ethics. Sexual harassment in the workplace falls under employment law and can be considered either a crime or an intentional tort depending on a specific situation. Sexual harassment is considered to be a form of discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If sexual harassment is not actively dealt with it can lead to multiple personal and legal issues for those involved. Management in a business need to have the tools available to them for education and they need to be able recognize when sexual harassment is occurring and what their responsibilities under the law are.

About 15 years ago I was working in a car dealership. This car dealership was what was commonly referred to as an Auto Mall meaning that there were many different car lines to choose from in one single location. This also meant that there were quite a lot of employees at the location. The car dealership industry is fairly male dominated with a sparse number of female that are employed. Females mostly worked in the offices and in the cashier...