It is important that you learn about sexual harassment and what you can do to prevent it.

What will you learn on this page?

· Definition of sexual harassment
· Two types of sexual harassment
· Schreiner University's Policy
· Forms to File a Complaint
· Quiz/ Quiz Answers

Quid pro quo
Quid pro quo (Latin meaning "this for that") sexual harassment involve cases where a supervisor or other manager is requesting sexual favors in exchange for providing job benefits or a supervisor or other manager is threatening denial of job benefits to gain sexual favors.

Some elements of quid pro quo sexual harassment include:

• The employee was subjected to unwelcome conduct.

• The harassment complain was based upon sex.

• Submission to the unwelcome conduct was a condition to receiving or not taking away job benefits.

• Harassment by employer or agent of employer.

Hostile Environment Harassment

Unwelcome sexual comments or conduct that unreasonably interferes with an employee's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. Also, unwelcome sexual comments or conduct that unreasonably limits a student's ability to participate in or benefit from his/her education or that creates a hostile or abusive educational environment.

Anyone might commit this type of harassment - a supervisor, co-worker, faculty, residential advisor, student, non-employee.
 

Standards governing whether unwelcome sexual conduct creates an unlawful hostile environment:

• The key issues are frequency and severity: the more severe the conduct, the less frequent it must be to create a hostile environment; the less severe, the more frequent it must be. Both objective and subjective standards apply: How would a "reasonable person" have reacted in the complainant's position? How did the complainant react?

• Nothing tangible about the individual's job or education need be affected.
  Severe psychological harm is not necessary to establish a violation.

Schreiner is committed to maintaining a work environment free of sexual harassment. Any form of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior should be reported immediately pursuant to the University's sexual harassment policy. All reports will be handled as confidentially as possible and no employee will be retaliated against for filing a complaint or report. Please note the Sexual Harassment Committee Members are there to assist anyone with a complaint.

Click here for the Schreiner University Sexual Harassment Policy
 

Question: Is this sexual harassment? If so, what type?
__ No
__ Yes, Hostile Work Environment
__ Yes, Quid Pro Quo

2. Facts: Danny works in a department where Sharon is his supervisor. Sharon has been rubbing against Danny and flirting with him. Danny is offended but afraid to report Sharon.

Question: Should Danny refrain from reporting Sharon because she is his supervisor?

__Yes, Danny should avoid any trouble with his supervisor.
__No, Danny should not be afraid of retaliation by his supervisor and should report the conduct immediately.

3. Facts: Cary received an A for the semester without turning in a single assignment. Everyone knew he was sleeping with Professor Leslie.

Question: Is this sexual harassment? __ yes __ no

4. Facts: Pam is a work study student with the chemistry department. Her boss, the office manager, pesters her for dates. She turns him down. He continues to ask her out, leaves notes on her desk and makes it uncomfortable for her to come to work.

Question: Is this sexual harassment? __ yes __ no

5. Facts: Gordon couldn't believe what he was hearing. The university was cutting the funding for the men's wrestling team so the women could play softball.

Question: Is this sexual harassment? __ yes __ no

6. Facts: When Jenny led class discussion for History 302, several of her male classmates from the back of the classroom made sexually suggestive remarks and pointed and leered at her breasts.

Question: Is this sexual harassment? __ yes __ no

Quiz Answers:

1. Correct Answer. Quid pro quo sexual harassment could be involved in this fact situation because Jack's conduct was unwelcome and based on sex, and because he conditioned receipt of a job benefit on Mary's submission to his unwelcome conduct.

2. Correct Answer. No, Danny should not be afraid of retaliation by his supervisor and should report the conduct immediately. Danny's employer should not allow Sharon to retaliate against him for reporting Sharon's conduct. It is important that any retaliation or threat of retaliation be reported to the appropriate party designated in the policy.

3. Correct Answer. No. This is an example of sexual favoritism, UNLESS Cary was coerced or threatened into the sexual relationship with Leslie. But the institution could be vulnerable if other students perceive that only by sleeping with Leslie can they get a high grade, or if the relationship goes sour and Cary charges sexual harassment and/or retaliation by Leslie (should his grade get lowered, legitimately or not).

4. Correct Answer. Yes. Repeated unwelcome behavior such as this could constitute hostile environment sexual harassment for which the institution could be found liable.

5. Correct Answer. No. This may be a case of sexual discrimination because Title IX but it is not sexual harassment.

6. Correct Answer. Yes. But no liability may attach to the institution if the instructor acts quickly and effectively to stop the harassment and counsel and discipline the offenders. If not, the institution could be found in violation of Title IX for permitting a hostile environment to exist.