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What types of workers are most apt to be sexually harassed?

On Behalf of | May 1, 2020 | Sexual Harassment |

Sexual harassment is, unfortunately, a far too common phenomenon in the workplace. Some types of workers tend to be more vulnerable to sexual harassment more than others.

The risk of sexual harassment tends to be higher in places in which a person works for tips.

Females who find themselves isolated for a significant portion of their shift experience more sexual harassment than others. Hotel, agricultural and domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to being victimized because of this.

Undocumented workers and females who work in male-dominated professions or workplaces with significant female-male power imbalances are also more vulnerable to being sexually harassed than others.

Studies show that as much as 80% of women will experience some form of sexual harassment in their lifetimes. Sexual harassment takes on many different appearances. It can be both verbal and physical. It can take the form of threats or involve the use of force.

Women who are sexually harassed may suffer from physical and mental problems. They may be discouraged from pursuing higher-paying careers or positions, resulting in lower pay and glass ceilings on their career paths simply because of what they went through.

Sexual harassment may vary based upon a person’s sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability or religious affiliations. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) defines sexual harassment as “any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the victim lacks the capacity to consent.”

Someone who sexually harasses another person isn’t only committing a crime by doing so. It’s also discriminatory. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) states that “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment”.

Sexual harassment takes on many forms, and every person’s experience is unique. If you’ve been a victim of sexual harassment, then you may be entitled to monetary damages under existing New Jersey laws. The extent of compensation you be granted might depend on the nature, extent and severity of the treatment that you encountered. An experienced attorney can review your case and advise you of your right to file suit here in Burlington.